Before the city fully woke, one corner of the downtown square felt untouched by time. The air carried the scent of damp pavement and fresh bread as commuters rushed past. Every morning, Emma Brooks crossed the street in her pressed black work uniform, coffee in hand, walking not out of habit—but purpose. On the same bench sat an elderly woman wrapped in worn clothes, nearly invisible to passersby. Emma stopped, gently handed her the coffee, and exchanged a few quiet words. The moment was brief, simple, and repeated every day.
Across the street, Michael Reed watched. A powerful businessman and widower, he was used to order and efficiency. Emma worked for his company, and her daily pause unsettled him. When their eyes met, she hurried away. That night, her steady kindness lingered in his thoughts, stirring something unfamiliar. Before dawn, he decided to learn more.
