The next morning, he waited. After Emma left, Michael approached the woman, who met him without surprise. She dismissed his questions and told him to ask Emma himself. Later that day, Michael confronted her gently. When he asked why she did it, Emma answered simply, “Because I can.” Days passed, and Michael watched more closely. What he saw wasn’t charity—it was devotion.
Life changed, not overnight, but steadily. Years later, they returned to the square as a family, their daughter running ahead while Darlene sat stronger than before. When asked why they always came back, Emma smiled. “Because this is where everything began.” And she knew then—real love doesn’t always arrive loudly. Sometimes, it comes quietly, and changes everything.