Jennie and Lisa, both reeling from fresh breakups, find themselves alone in a dimly lit bar one evening. The weight of their heartbreaks brings them together as they share their stories over drinks. As the night goes on, they find unexpected comfort...
I leaned in a bit to read it. "Kaleb," I said, smiling.
"Hi, Kaleb. I'm Lisa. Can I help you find your mommy?"
Kaleb sniffled and nodded again, his grip tightening on the stuffed animal. He was so young, probably around three years old, and it broke my heart to see him so upset.
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"You're doing great, Kaleb," I said, holding out my hand. "Can I hold your hand while we look for her?"
Kaleb hesitated for a moment, then placed his tiny hand in mine. It felt so small and fragile, but his trust in me was clear.
"Do you remember what your mommy looks like?" I asked gently, trying to keep him talking to distract him from his fear.
"Mommy... pweety," he said in his babyish voice, making my heart melt.
"I bet she is," I replied, smiling. "And what about your daddy? Is he here too?"
Kaleb shook his head. "No... mommy... and... Auntie Ahy-on."
I blinked at the name. Ahyeon? That sounds familiar. As we walked towards the front of the store, I couldn't shake the feeling that I knew that name.
As Kaleb and I slowly walked toward the front of the store, I scanned the crowd, hoping to spot someone who might be looking for him. Then, just as we turned the corner, I saw a familiar face—a young woman moving quickly, her eyes searching frantically.
"Kaleb!" she called out, her voice filled with relief.
Kaleb’s face lit up instantly, and he tugged at my hand. "Auntie Ahy-on!"
When she finally reached us, I was taken aback.
"Ahyeon?" I said, recognizing her as one of the interns from my engineering department who had recently graduated.
She froze for a second, her eyes widening as she recognized me too. "Ms. Lisa? Oh my god, I didn’t realize—thank you so much!"
She quickly crouched down to Kaleb’s level, pulling him into a tight hug.
"Are you okay, Kaleb? You scared me! Your mom will kill me."
Kaleb nodded, snuggling into her embrace, while I stood there, still processing the situation. Ahyeon had been one of the more diligent interns, always on top of her work, and now here she was, with a nephew who had somehow ended up in my care.
"No problem at all." I said, giving Ahyeon a reassuring smile. "I just found him a bit lost and thought I’d help him find his way back."
Ahyeon stood up, still holding Kaleb close. "I’m so sorry for the trouble. He’s usually very good about staying close, but I guess he got excited."
I waved it off. "No trouble at all. I’m just glad he’s safe." I looked down at Kaleb, who was now clinging to Ahyeon, clearly feeling much better.
"He’s a sweet kid."
Ahyeon nodded, a grateful smile on her face.
"He really is. Thank you again,Ms. Lisa. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been here."
I shrugged, still a bit taken aback by the coincidence. "It’s a small world, isn’t it?"
"Yeah, it really is," she replied, laughing lightly. "I didn’t expect to run into you here, of all places."
"Well, I’m glad I did," I said, glancing down at Kaleb again. "And it’s nice to see you, Ahyeon. I heard you graduated—congrats.I’m sure you’ll do great.If you ever need anything, just reach out."
"Thanks, Ms. Lisa, I will, definitely," she said, adjusting Kaleb on her hip. "And thank you again, really. I owe you one."
"Don’t worry about it," I said, giving her a nod. "Just take care of this little guy."
As Ahyeon and Kaleb started to walk away, a thought crossed my mind. I quickly caught up to them.
"Hey, Ahyeon," I called out, making her turn around.
"Yeah?" she replied, a bit surprised.
"I was just thinking," I began, choosing my words carefully. "Have you found work yet? I know you just graduated, but if you’re looking, you can always apply to my company. You were a great intern, and I’d love to have you on the team."
Ahyeon’s eyes widened in surprise, and a blush crept up her cheeks. "Oh, wow, thank you,Ms. Lisa! That’s really generous of you," she stammered, clearly taken aback. "But… I don’t want to impose or seem like I’m asking for favours or..."
I smiled at her, shaking my head. "You’re not imposing at all. You’ve earned it, Ahyeon. You worked hard as an intern, and I’ve seen your potential. I wouldn’t be offering if I didn’t mean it."
She glanced down at Kaleb, who was busy fiddling with the strap of his little backpack, and then back at me. "I really appreciate that, Ms. Lisa. It’s just… it’s a big step, and I guess I’m a little nervous."
"Nervous is good," I said with a chuckle. "It means you care. But seriously, don’t overthink it. If you want the opportunity, it’s yours. And if not, that’s okay too. Just know the door’s open."
Ahyeon smiled shyly, clearly touched by the offer. "I’ll definitely think about it. It’s just a lot to process right now, but I promise I’ll let you know soon."
"No rush," I assured her. "Take your time, talk it over with your family if you need to. But remember, I believe in you."
Her smile widened, and she nodded. "Thank you, Ms.L. That really means a lot to me."
With that, we said our goodbyes, and I watched as Ahyeon walked away with Kaleb, feeling a strange mix of emotions.
It was good to see her, and it was even better to know that Kaleb was safe. But as I left the store, I couldn’t help but feel a pang in my chest, knowing that for just a moment...
I had felt a connection to something—or someone—I had been trying to forget.
