He approached slowly. At Maria’s feet sat a worn plastic bag. Inside were two empty baby bottles, a few folded diapers, and a piece of dry bread wrapped in a napkin. One baby breathed in short, uneven puffs. Another clung tightly to Maria’s finger. The third curled against her chest, seeking warmth.
Mr. Caldwell gently touched her shoulder. Maria startled awake, instinctively pulling the babies closer, her eyes wild with fear. When she recognized Ethan, her face flushed with embarrassment.
“Sir… I’ll be at work tomorrow,” she whispered quickly. “I just… needed to rest for a moment.”
“Rest where, Maria?” Ethan asked quietly, lowering his voice so as not to frighten the children. “Why are you here?”
Her composure broke. Tears came before words. “I was evicted. I fell behind on rent. And these babies… they’re my brother’s. He died in an accident. Their mother disappeared from the hospital. I couldn’t let them be taken to a shelter. I couldn’t.”