The park was quiet. Really quiet, with the kind of silence that hummed like a song. It was worth the time Amara had carved out of her busy day. Everything was worth the long walk here.
The evening breeze brushed her hair back as if it too respected her peace. Everything about the park, the rustle of leaves, the fading chatter of children, and the sight of the sky bruising into night fueled her productivity. It made her sharper. It made her more herself.
She smiled at the stray dog sniffing around her shoes. It tilted its head when she smiled, and barked softly, as if smiling back. Without hesitation, she bent down, broke off the last bite of her donut, and fed it to him. The dog's tail wagged. Amara smiled one last time before standing up.
"Amara, right?"
The voice cut through her stillness. Amara froze halfway up, then deliberately sat back down, crossing her legs as though she had nowhere better to be. Slowly, she tilted her chin up.
