“I’m going to Zurich,” he explained. “I’m competing in the International Math Challenge. My neighborhood paid for the trip. They say if I succeed, doors will open for me.”
Henry gazed at him with admiration. He saw in this boy the same fire that had once driven him to success.
In Zurich, Malik shone. His solutions were not just correct—they connected mathematics to the real world, from airplane flights to a baby’s sleep cycles. The judges, impressed, awarded him the gold medal.
“Malik, you didn’t just calm my daughter. You reminded me of what truly matters. You’re part of the family.”
With tears in his eyes, Malik realized his future would never be uncertain again.
Months later, a photo of him with Henry and Nora made the front pages. But the truth was simple: a crying baby, the gesture of a stranger, and three lives forever intertwin
