La vida

**No One’s Fault, or Just the Way the Stars Aligned** Oliver held the restaurant door open, letting his

No One’s Fault, or Just the Way the Stars Aligned James held the restaurant door open, letting his wife

*From my journal, dated 15th October—* A cold, rainy evening in October. The last service had ended

No One’s Fault, or Just the Way the Stars Align James held the restaurant door open for his wife, letting

Helen woke at dawn, made breakfast, packed her husband’s lunch, and only then went to rouse him. “

**The Caretaker of Our Estate** Charlotte walks home in the early autumn twilight. The streetlamps flicker

“She left me with a baby and ran off. Oh, you… I must’ve dozed off, useless old…

“Please, give me back my son. I’ll give you anything you want,” whispered Nadine, her voice

The battered old bus was stifling. Sweltering thirty-degree air poured through the open windows, bringing

She left me with the child and ran off. Oh, you… Overslept, stupid old…” Mary groaned