He didn’t offer excuses, and I didn’t demand a dramatic performance.

What mattered was that he understood, and that the work he cared about was now happening in a safer way.

At lunch, Keisha told a story about the first day she’d met Walter.

He had shown up at her office carrying a broken bicycle wheel and insisting he needed help finding the correct part, not housing assistance.

She had asked why he wanted the part so badly.

He said a little boy needed to get to summer camp.