There was a message in the hospital group chat. Her coworkers said they’d missed her and invited her to a backyard cookout that weekend. Emily smiled and typed back that she’d be there. Evening settled quietly over the neighborhood. She sat by the window watching lights come on and thought about the woman in the scarf.
Who had she been? A guardian angel? A sharp-eyed stranger who happened to step in at the right moment? Emily never did find her, no matter how often she looked. It was as if the woman had simply done what she came to do and moved on. But every time Emily passed that bus stop, she thanked her silently.
Her phone buzzed again. Unknown number. Emily answered.
“Ms. Carter? This is Central City Hospital, palliative care. We have an elderly woman here without identification. She asked for you by name and said you’d understand.”
Emily’s heart gave a small jolt.
“I’m on my way,” she said, grabbing her bag.
The room was quiet. Only a small lamp glowed beside the bed. On the white sheets lay the same woman. Older now, worn down by illness, but with those same clear eyes. She smiled faintly when she saw Emily.
“You came, honey. I was hoping you would.”
Emily sat down beside her and took the woman’s dry, cool hand in both of hers.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone you were sick? Why were you out there at that bus stop? You could barely stand.”
The woman gave a weak shake of her head…
