I sent Maya a photograph.

“First item for the lost-and-found.”

She replied with a laughing message and said they would collect it next time.

I put it in a small bowl beside the door.

It was the kind of ordinary evidence of a visit I had wanted for years: something left by accident because there would be another chance to come back for it.

PART 7 — The Promise for Tomorrow

Julian came alone the following week.