She said it with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Now the sky had turned from orange to purple to black. The streetlamp above the bench flickered like it couldn’t decide whether to stay on or give up.
Liam’s backpack sat beside him. Inside: two juice boxes, a peanut butter sandwich wrapped in foil, and a folded piece of paper with his name written on it.
He didn’t open the note.
He believed her.
Cars passed beyond the park fence. Headlights streaked like comets. Every time footsteps approached, Liam straightened, hope rising like a balloon in his chest.
But no one stopped.
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