The following Monday, I ran into Bob in the elevator, a rare occurrence given our different schedules.
He looked better, more put together, and there was a lightness to his demeanor that hadn’t been there before.
“Hey,” I greeted, feeling the familiar rhythm of our routine fall back into place.
“Morning,” he replied, his smile genuine.
“How’s everything?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“Better,” he said, nodding. “That job helped a lot. Got a bit of breathing room now.”
“Glad to hear it,” I said, relieved.
“Yeah,” he chuckled, “still a long way to go, but…”
“One step at a time,” I finished for him, earning a grateful nod.
As the elevator doors opened on our floor, we stepped out, the weight of the past few weeks feeling distant.
“Thanks,” Bob said, pausing at his door. “For everything.”
“Anytime,” I replied, meaning it.
As I watched him enter his apartment, I felt a sense of peace settle over me.
Bob still had challenges ahead, but for now, it seemed like things were finally turning a corner.
Note: This story is a work of fiction inspired by real events. Names, characters, and details have been altered.
