h petrichor. Amira stood across from the address printed on the back of the Wolfe

he turned left. Just five minu

boutique caught her eye. The window display was crooked, the

nd cinnamon wrap around her. No loud music. Just the

self into a corner seat by the window, clu

otice the gi

Her hair was a tangle of honey brown curls ,looked like it hadn't been treate

heir e

d quiet like a deep lak

way, then back again. Ami

then got up, book in h

girl sai

wering her voice like she was

"This one's about a dog who r

like a b

"He was scared. But

"Sometimes it's hard

ing her like kids do when they s

she said. "Not to

rised. "Thank you.

And I don't lik

her in the seat opposite Amira. No manners, no hes

talking, pointing to the dog in the book, explaining how he got l

even though he was

eone cheering for h

"Do you think dogs k

ightened. "Yes.

from the door.

ll

ffened. The

ressed man stood...tall, rigid, his eyes lo

d slowly, hugging th

spered, and th

pty seat across from h

that little girl. Someth

t her watch ,

the man who migh

knowing that she'd j

quiet warmth, had already begun to

of healing something she d