A Softer Tone
Lily’s tone changed as she talked. It wasn’t defensive anymore; it was softer, almost vulnerable. My interest piqued as I listened from a distance, realizing there was more to this feisty waitress than met the eye.
This shift sparked a renewed desire to help her, to see if I could ease some of the burdens she carried.
It felt like a moment of hope and possibility for both of us.