Across the street, Michael Reed watched these daily moments with a mix of curiosity and unease. A powerful businessman, widowed for years, he was accustomed to order, precision, and efficiency in every aspect of life. Emma worked for him, her professionalism undeniable, yet her morning pause unsettled him. When their eyes occasionally met across the street, she would blush slightly and hurry away, leaving Michael staring after her. That night, long after the office had emptied, her gentle kindness lingered in his mind. It stirred something unfamiliar—something soft that he had not felt in years. Before dawn the next day, he resolved to understand the small, mysterious act that had captured his attention.
The following morning, he waited, pacing behind a row of trees to avoid being seen. When Emma crossed and delivered the coffee, Michael approached the woman immediately afterward. She looked at him calmly, without surprise, as though she had been expecting his questions. She waved him off gently, telling him that he should ask Emma herself if he wanted answers. Later, when Michael summoned the courage to speak to Emma directly, he asked why she did it every morning. Her answer was simple, quiet, yet unwavering: “Because I can.”
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