The First Encounter
The streets of Manhattan pulsed with evening traffic and hurried footsteps. Amid the rush, Isaiah, a boy no older than twelve, stood on the corner. His shirt was torn, his hands dusty, and his eyes carried the weight of nights spent under bridges. He held out his hand quietly, asking for spare change.
Most passed him without a glance. One woman, sharply dressed and impatient, snapped at him, her words sharp as glass. Isaiah lowered his head, used to such reactions.
A tall man in a tailored suit stepped forward. Simon Harrington, a billionaire known to many but a stranger to Isaiah, placed a folded bill into the boy’s hand. For the first time that day, Isaiah felt seen.
An Unexpected Bond
A few evenings later, Isaiah spotted Simon again. This time, danger lurked. A boy from the streets tried to snatch Simon’s wallet. Without thinking, Isaiah stepped in, blocking the thief. Surprised, Simon looked at him with curiosity and gratitude.
They spoke for the first time. Names were exchanged. Stories, too. Simon admitted that wealth didn’t shield him from loneliness or suspicion. He spoke of Amelia, his elegant but distant wife, whose gaze was as cold as the marble floors of their mansion.
Isaiah listened quietly, his instincts sharp. On the streets, survival depended on noticing what others ignored.
