Michael hesitated before replying. Victoria had always been the more impatient one regarding Ellie’s condition, constantly pushing for more aggressive treatments and experimental trials. He preferred a gentler approach. “All quiet here. I’ll call you tomorrow,” he finally wrote. That night, Michael slept fitfully.
In his dreams, he saw Ellie running toward Hope, and for the first time in six years, he heard her laugh. The next day was even hotter. Michael had made a decision during the night. He was going back to that intersection.
He wasn’t sure what he hoped to achieve, but Ellie’s reaction had been too significant to ignore.
— Want to go see the girl with the water? — he asked Ellie at breakfast. To his surprise, Ellie nodded vigorously, looking more excited than he’d seen her in months.
At 2:30 PM, exactly the same time as the day before, Michael pulled up to the familiar corner. Ellie was sitting on the edge of her seat, scanning the sidewalk. And there was Hope with her small cooler, cheerfully calling out to drivers under the relentless sun. When she saw the black BMW, a wide grin broke across her face.
— Mr. Sterling! Princess Ellie! — she shouted, running to the car. — I’m so glad you came back! Ellie gripped the door handle, trying to roll the window down faster. Michael was stunned by the urgency in his daughter’s movements.
— Hello, Hope! — Michael said. — How do you know our names?
Hope laughed playfully.
— Yesterday you said your name was Michael, and you called her princess. But she looks like an Ellie. She’s got an Ellie face.
Michael smiled genuinely for the first time in a week.
— Are you hungry, Hope? Would you like to go grab some lunch with us?
Hope’s eyes lit up, but then clouded with worry.
— Oh, sir, I can’t leave my spot. If I don’t sell these, my mom will worry about the bills.
— How much do you usually make in a day?
— About fifty dollars on a good day.
Michael pulled out his wallet and handed her five hundred dollars.
— Consider your inventory sold. Let’s go eat.
Hope carefully tucked the money into her backpack and hopped into the car. Ellie immediately slid over to sit next to her, which was completely out of character for a girl who usually avoided physical contact.
— Where should we go? — Michael asked.
— Mrs. Higgins’ Diner! — Hope exclaimed without hesitation. — They have the best pancakes, and it’s right by the park.
Michael hesitated for a second. He usually frequented five-star restaurants, but seeing the joy in Ellie’s eyes, he decided to go with it.
Mrs. Higgins’ Diner was exactly what Michael expected. Vinyl booths, mismatched chairs, and the irresistible smell of bacon and maple syrup. It was a different world, but there was something authentic and warm about it.
— Hope! — a woman called out from behind the counter. — Done for the day already?
— Mrs. Higgins, meet my friends Michael and Ellie. They invited me for lunch. The woman looked at Michael’s expensive suit, then at Ellie in her designer dress. A look of understanding, mixed with curiosity, crossed her face.
— Welcome to my place, — she said with a warm smile. — What can I get for you?
While they waited for their food, Hope started telling Ellie about her life. She talked about school, her teachers, and her grandma who made the best apple pie in the state. Ellie listened to every word with an attention Michael had never seen.
— You know what, Ellie?
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