Love Across Borders

CHAPTER 14: Kindness in Small Acts

The afternoon sun streamed through the large bay windows of the office, casting long shadows across Karl's desk. He had been staring at the papers in front of him for several minutes, but his mind wasn't on his work. Ever since that heated conversation with Ama-Facing the Pain as he now thought of it-he had found himself reevaluating almost everything he did. It was as if something had shifted within him, and though the change was subtle, it was undeniable.There was a soft knock on his door, and without waiting for a response, Peter, one of his colleagues, entered. He gave Karl a look of concern, then tossed a folder on the desk."You look like you've seen a ghost, mate," Peter said, leaning back on the chair opposite Karl's desk.Karl shook his head, trying to snap himself out of his thoughts. "Just... a lot on my mind.""Well, try not to lose yourself in there. We've got a presentation to prepare for Friday, remember?" Peter gave him a lazy grin, but his eyes sharpened as he glanced down at Karl's notes. "Or, is this about something else?"It was strange how easily his colleagues could slide into casual remarks about race or status without even realizing the weight of their words. He'd seen it at the dinner party, and again here in the office. And for the first time, it bothered him-not just in the way it had been bothering Ama, but in a way that felt personal. He thought back to the moment he had defended Ama at the party, surprising even himself. It was a small act, but it had left a lasting mark on him."Just work," Karl mumbled. But deep down, he knew it was more than that.He had been thinking about Ama, her words echoing in his head ever since that night. He had noticed her change toward him-wariness mixed with a flicker of hope-and it weighed on him. The more he thought about her, the more he questioned his old assumptions, the ones he had lived with for so long they felt like second nature.Ama adjusted her scarf, pulling it tighter around her neck as the early evening chill descended. She glanced up and noticed Karl approaching from across the street. His steps were slower than usual, as if he was lost in thought. This had become a recurring pattern lately-he would show up unexpectedly, his demeanor more thoughtful, his gaze softer.They had agreed to meet at a small café, a neutral ground after their last intense conversation. Ama wasn't entirely sure what to make of this version of Karl. He was trying, she could see that, but whether it was out of genuine change or an attempt to win her approval, she wasn't certain."Karl," she greeted as he took a seat across from her.He offered a small, hesitant smile. "Thanks for meeting me."They exchanged pleasantries, but there was an unspoken tension between them. Ama sipped her coffee slowly, watching him from behind the rim of her cup. Something was different about him. In the past, he had always been so sure of himself, so firm in his beliefs, even when those beliefs stood in opposition to everything Ama knew about the world. Now, there was uncertainty in his eyes, like he was wrestling with something deep inside."I've been thinking a lot about what you said," Karl began, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. "About... how I've acted. How I've seen things."Ama raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. He didn't usually admit to being wrong."There's no excuse for some of the things I've said or done," he went on. "And I want to... I want to do better."Ama's heart fluttered at his words, but she forced herself to stay grounded. She had heard promises before, seen people try to change on the surface without truly transforming within. She wasn't about to fall into that trap again."That's good to hear," she said cautiously. "But, Karl, it's not about just saying it."He nodded, and for a moment, she saw a vulnerability in him that hadn't been there before. It was as if he was unsure of how to navigate this new path he was trying to forge."I know," he said. "I've been trying... little things. I don't know if you've noticed."She had noticed, actually. There had been subtle changes in him. The way he would pause before speaking, as if considering his words more carefully. The way he had stood up for her at the party. Even today, the fact that he had arrived on time and didn't immediately dive into their conversation with his usual bravado-it all pointed to something shifting within him. But Ama wasn't sure if it was enough."I've seen it," she admitted. "But, Karl, small acts of kindness-while they matter-aren't everything. What I'm wondering is whether these small changes are real... or if they're just temporary."Karl looked down at his hands, fingers tapping against the table. "I don't know," he said honestly. "I don't know if I'm doing enough or if I'll ever do enough. But I'm trying. I want to understand."The vulnerability in his voice took her by surprise. Ama had never seen him like this before. He was usually so composed, so sure of his opinions. But now, he was faltering, questioning things he had once believed without hesitation.Later that evening, Karl found himself replaying their conversation over and over in his head. He had noticed how careful Ama had been with her words, as if she was guarding herself from believing too much in him, afraid that he might fall back into his old ways.In the quiet of his apartment, Karl's thoughts shifted to his childhood, the lessons ingrained in him since he was young-what it meant to be successful, what it meant to be powerful. There had always been an implicit understanding of who deserved to be in those circles and who didn't. It wasn't something he had ever questioned before, not until Ama.Now, every time he found himself about to make a remark or judgment that reflected his old worldview, something held him back. He caught himself, sometimes too late, but the effort was there. He wasn't sure why Ama had this effect on him, or maybe he did know-he was just reluctant to admit it.Days passed, and Karl's efforts became more noticeable to those around him, though no one commented on it. He had always been a good manager at work, but now, there was a softness in how he interacted with his team. He began volunteering for things he would have previously ignored, small acts like covering for a colleague who needed to leave early or taking extra time to explain something to a junior employee.One afternoon, they had lunch with some colleagues, including Peter and Beth, who often exchanged harmless jokes that sometimes crossed the line. Karl usually laughed along, never bothering to correct them. But when Peter made a casual comment about one of their clients, something that brushed uncomfortably against racial stereotypes, Karl surprised everyone, including himself."Maybe we should reconsider how we talk about people," Karl said quietly but firmly. There was no anger in his tone, but the message was clear.Peter stared at him, shocked, while Beth nervously laughed it off. "Alright, alright. Didn't realize you had become so politically correct, Karl."But Karl didn't flinch. He didn't laugh it off as he usually would have. Instead, he simply looked back at them, and for the first time, it seemed like his colleagues were seeing a new side of him-one that wasn't going to tolerate those kinds of comments anymore.Ama heard about it later from one of their mutual friends, Lily, who had been at the lunch."Karl stood up for you, you know," Lily told her. "It wasn't even something major, but I could tell he meant it."Ama's heart beat faster at the thought. Maybe he was changing, after all. But as she sat alone that evening, her thoughts turned darker. Kindness in small acts was important, but she had seen too many people fall back into old patterns. Could Karl really be different? Could he really leave behind the world he had been raised in?Ama sighed, running a hand through her hair. She wanted to believe him, but there was a part of her that held back, a part that was too afraid to hope.As the evening wore on, Ama received a message from Karl.I'm still trying. I just want you to know that.Ama stared at the message for a long time, her emotions a tangled mess.I know, she typed back, before deleting it. Then, after a long pause, she sent a simple reply: Thank you.She wasn't sure what the future held, but for now, she would take it one day at a time, watching the kindness in Karl's small acts, and waiting to see if those walls would truly crumble.In the quiet of the night, Karl sat on his balcony, looking out at the stars. He didn't have all the answers, and he wasn't sure where this journey would lead him. But for the first time in a long while, he felt like he was on the right path.