Chapter 10 - The Last Footstep
The morning sun of New Year’s Day broke over the skyline like liquid gold, melting the fresh layer of snow into glittering streams along the pavement of Memorial Park.
Marcus and I were walking without security, without motorcades, and without cameras. Just two people in thick winter coats walking side by side down the quiet footpath where our story had begun twelve months ago.
As we approached the wooden bench under the sprawling oak tree, I paused.
Tucked into the frozen soil right beside the bench was something small and metallic—a discarded silver coin, identical to the one Marcus had given me, left behind by someone who had clearly spent a freezing night out in the cold.
I bent down, brushed the snow off the metal, and picked it up.
Marcus watched me, a gentle, knowing smile playing across his face.
"Looks like someone else needed a reminder," he said softly.
I stood up, turned toward the park entrance where a shivering young man in a worn-out jacket was walking slowly toward the exit, looking lost and forgotten in the winter chill.
May you like
I looked down at my brown winter boots—waterproof, insulated, and polished to perfection.
Then I looked at Marcus.
