After picking up an elderly woman on a lonely stretch of road, Michael was driving her home when she began to hum a familiar melody. He froze, the notes bringing back a flood of memories of the mother who had vanished from his life 45 years ago. It was late evening, and Michael Anderson, a successful businessman who owned a regional chain of supermarkets, was heading home after an exhausting day. He had decided to drive himself, enjoying the rare silence and the nearly empty highway, leaving the noise and stress of the city behind.
The night air was crisp, and Michael, lost in thought, cruised along the suburban backroads. His routine drive took an unexpected turn when his headlights caught a solitary figure on the shoulder.
Despite the darkness, the beams illuminated an elderly woman struggling against the evening wind. Concerned for her safety, Michael pulled over without a second thought. He wondered what could have brought someone her age out to this desolate stretch so late at night.
He stepped out of his SUV and cautiously approached her.
She was wrapped in a worn cardigan and a headscarf, determinedly putting one foot in front of the other. Her silver hair whipped in the wind, and her eyes held a mixture of grit and confusion.
— “Excuse me, ma’am,” Michael began, his voice steady and respectful. “Are you alright? Do you need a lift somewhere?”
His tone was that of a man who, despite his tax bracket, hadn’t lost his sense of decency. The woman looked up at him, her face etched with fatigue. She gave a slight shrug and answered softly:
— “I seem to have lost my way. I didn’t realize how far I’d walked, and now I’m not quite sure how to get back.”
Michael nodded, glancing at the dark road ahead.
— “It’s not safe out here at night. Please, let me give you a ride. I’ll make sure you get home safely.”
The woman hesitated, looking at him with a touch of caution.
