I Bought the School Janitor New Boots After Seeing His Taped-up Soles – I Couldn’t Stop Crying When He Showed up at My Front Door That Night

That Sunday, we brought marigolds.

He wore the new boots.

The old ones stayed behind, wrapped in tissue, carrying a story that didn’t need to be worn down to stay alive.

We stood together in the quiet.

After a while, he smiled.

“She would’ve loved this.”

I squeezed his arm.

“I think she does.”