A teen girl tried to steal a book from our store

“Not what I did. Not what I looked like. You saw me.”

Her words hit deeper than I expect.

“I wish I could have helped you more,” I admit.

“You did enough,” she replies.

A soft breeze passes between us, and for a second, she seems… lighter, like she is starting to fade.

Panic grips me.

“Wait,” I say quickly. “Will I see you again?”

She hesitates, then smiles continue reading …