I broke down, overwhelmed, and held her as we both carried our grief in that shared moment of connection. Over the years, that bond never faded. I became something like a mother to her, and we remained part of each other’s lives.
Even now, whenever she visits and I find myself smiling, I remember the quiet girl who sat beside me when no one else could—and how, in the darkest moment of both our lives, her simple, unwavering kindness changed everything.
