Knocks on the Door

"Plea-please, help me! My parents -"

Without waiting for me to speak, Jackson blurted out, barely audible above the rain, that he needed our help. His voice was trembling, conveying a sense of urgency.

"My parents were missing again," he explained, his words accompanied by tears streaming down his face.

For a moment, conflicting emotions tugged at my heart. Part of me wanted to stay rooted in place, not willing to lend a hand to someone who had betrayed us in the past.

But Simon, with his inherently kind heart, spoke up and invited Jackson inside, offering him something dry to wear. "Come in, Jackson," he said gently, guiding him further into the warehouse. "We'll help you. You can trust us."

Jackson hesitated for a moment, almost unsure if Simon could truly be this compassionate after all that had transpired. But eventually, he nodded gratefully, his trembling form still betraying his vulnerability.

As he changed into the dry clothes Simon offered, our t