Chapter 18 - Sophie’s Question
Three months later, Centennial Park reopened fully.
People returned slowly.
Parents remained nervous.
Dogs avoided nothing.
Children reclaimed the grass first.
They always do.
Sophie refused to return for weeks.
Then one Saturday, she asked.
“Can Titan come?”
So we went.
Rachel.
Sophie.
Claire.
Noah.
Me.
Titan.
No uniform.
No police vehicles.
No tape.
The oak tree stood exactly where it always had.
Sophie stopped thirty feet away.
Titan stopped with her.
Neither moved.
I waited.
She looked at him.
“Do you remember?”
Titan sniffed the air.
Then sat.
Sophie took one step.
Then another.
At the tree, she stared at the ground.
No leaves now.
Fresh grass.
New mulch.
No snake.
No blood.
No broken glasses.
Just earth.
She crouched.
Touched the roots.
Then asked:
“Why did he knock me down?”
I had answered that before.
But this time she meant something different.
Not mechanics.
Not snake behavior.
Why her?
Why did Titan choose?
“I don’t know.”
She frowned.
“You always say that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“He didn’t know me.”
“No.”
“He could’ve been hurt.”
“Yes.”
“He was.”
“Yes.”
She looked at Titan.
“Then why?”
I sat beside her.
“Because he saw danger.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s enough.”
She thought.
Then said:
“I thought heroes were supposed to know you.”
I looked at her.
“No.”
“Sometimes they just know you need help.”
Sophie smiled faintly.
Titan placed one paw on her shoe.
Her eyes filled.
She hugged him.
That was the first time she returned to the exact place.
May you like
The last time she was afraid of it.
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