Stephanie finished the last piece of bread slowly.
The warmth of the food spread through her empty stomach, making her feel a little stronger than before.
The older woman watched her quietly.
"Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?" she asked gently.
Stephanie hesitated.
For a moment, the truth sat heavily in her chest.
Then she slowly shook her head.
"No."
The woman sighed softly.
"You can stay in the small room behind my shop tonight," she said. "It's not much, but it's warm."
Stephanie's eyes widened slightly.
"Really?"
"Yes," the woman replied. "No young girl should be wandering around alone at night."
For a second, Stephanie didn't know what to say.
Kindness still felt strange to her.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
That night, Stephanie lay on the small mattress in the back room of the woman's shop.
The room was simple.
A small bed.
A window.
A thin blanket.
But to Stephanie, it felt safer than the house she had grown up in.
She pulled her notebook from her bag and took out the photograph again.
Her father's face stared back at her.
The newspaper she had read earlier flashed in her mind.
Louis.
Dead.
She stared at the picture for a long time.
Then slowly, she shook her head.
"No," she murmured to herself.
If he was really dead…
why had her mother never told her?
Why hide something like that for so many years?
Why avoid every question about him?
Stephanie held the photograph tightly.
Maybe the newspaper was wrong.
Maybe it was just another man with the same name.
Maybe…
her father was still somewhere out there.
And maybe one day…
she would find him.
The thought brought a tiny spark of hope back into her tired heart.
The next morning, Stephanie thanked the woman again before leaving the shop.
The sun was already warm as people filled the streets, starting their busy day.
Stephanie walked slowly, unsure of where to go next.
Suddenly, she noticed someone sitting on the edge of the sidewalk.
A girl.
She looked a few years older than Stephanie.
Her clothes were worn, and a small bag rested beside her feet.
The girl looked tired… the kind of tired that came from carrying too many problems alone.
Stephanie walked past her at first.
But something made her stop.
Maybe it was the way the girl stared blankly at the ground.
Maybe it was the familiar sadness in her eyes.
Stephanie slowly turned back.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly.
The girl looked up, surprised.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she gave a small, bitter laugh.
"Do I look okay?"
Stephanie shifted awkwardly.
"I guess… not really."
The girl studied her for a moment.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
Stephanie shook her head.
"No."
"Ran away?" the girl asked bluntly.
Stephanie hesitated.
Then she nodded slowly.
The girl sighed.
"Same."
Stephanie sat down beside her on the sidewalk.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then the girl finally said quietly,
"My parents died when I was little. I've been living with my aunt ever since."
She looked down at her hands.
"She never wanted me there."
Stephanie felt her chest tighten.
"She treated me like I was a burden," the girl continued. "Like my existence was just… annoying."
Stephanie swallowed hard.
"My mother didn't treat me very well either," she admitted quietly.
The girl looked at her again.
Something softened in her expression.
"Guess life hasn't been kind to either of us."
Stephanie nodded.
A small silence passed between them.
But this silence felt different.
Not heavy.
Not lonely.
Just two people who understood each other without needing many words.
Stephanie finally spoke again.
"I don't think I can survive this alone."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
The girl stared at her for a moment.
Then she gave a small smile.
"Good," she said.
"Because I don't think I can either."
For the first time since leaving home…
Stephanie didn't feel completely alone anymore.