At six forty-five, Derek came through the door carrying a coat over his arm.

He was fifteen minutes late, but he came.

He knelt beside Grace and listened as she explained why Venus was hotter than Mercury.

For the first time in months, he let her finish every sentence.

When he asked what he could do to help, Grace handed him a roll of tape.

He secured a loose poster corner without turning it into a lesson about business efficiency.

I watched from a few feet away.