โโฆAnna,โ she said quietly.
The man froze.
The name hit him like something he had buried years ago and prayed would never return.
His grip on the necklace tightened.
โThatโs not possibleโฆโ he whispered.
The elegant woman at the next table lowered her hand slowly, her expression shifting from disgust to confusion. The guard stood still, no longer sure what he was supposed to do.
The man dropped into the chair across from the girl, unable to look away from her face now.
โWhere is she?โ he asked, his voice breaking through control.
The girl hesitated.
โShe sleeps in the train station,โ she said softly. โSometimes she doesnโt wake up for a long time.โ
The manโs face changed completely.
The polished, untouchable calm was gone.
In its placeโfear.
Real fear.
He reached into his wallet with shaking hands and pulled out an old photograph.
A younger woman smiled in it, wearing the exact same silver heart necklace.
The man turned the photo toward the girl.
She leaned in slightly.
โThatโs my mom,โ she said.
The man stopped breathing.
Because in the photoโ
the woman was standing beside him.
