One sunny afternoon, Lily was playing on the sidewalk near her mother's café, her laughter filling the air. She was chasing after a butterfly, her golden curls bouncing with each step. Nearby, a small kitten wandered into the middle of the road, meowing plaintively.
Lily, seeing the kitten in danger, ran towards it without thinking. At that moment, a car came speeding down the street. The driver, startled, slammed on the brakes just in time to avoid hitting the little girl.
Alex, who was behind the wheel, felt his heart leap into his throat. He jumped out of the car and rushed to Lily's side, scooping her up into his arms. "Are you okay, little one?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Lily looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes and smiled. "Thank you, mister!" she said brightly. "You saved me and the kitty!"
Alex couldn't help but smile back at her. She was so sweet and innocent, a little ray of sunshine. "What's your name?" he asked, setting her down gently.
"Lily," she replied. "What's your name?"
"Alex," he answered, feeling an inexplicable connection to her. There was something about her that tugged at his heartstrings, a familiarity he couldn't quite place. "Where do you live, Lily?"
Lily pointed down the street. "I live with my mommy. She has a café over there."
"Would you like me to walk you home?" Alex offered, wanting to make sure she got back safely.
Lily nodded enthusiastically, taking his hand. Together, they walked towards the café, Lily chattering happily about her day. As they approached the café, Alex felt a strange sense of déjà vu, the warm and inviting atmosphere reminding him of someone he once knew.
When they arrived, Lily let go of his hand and ran inside. "Mommy! I'm back!" she called out.
Maya emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. When she saw Lily, her face lit up with a smile. "Lily, sweetheart, where have you been?" she asked, scooping her daughter into her arms.
"A nice man helped me!" Lily said, her eyes shining. "There was a kitten in the road and a car was coming, but he stopped and saved us!"
Maya's heart skipped a beat. "A man helped you? Where is he now, Lily?"
Lily turned and pointed towards the entrance, but the doorway was empty. "He was right there," she said, confusion clouding her features. "He said his name was Alex. He walked me home, but now he's gone."
Maya's breath caught in her throat at the mention of the name. "Alex?" she whispered to herself, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She hurried to the door and looked out onto the street, but there was no sign of him.
Unbeknownst to them, Alex had received an urgent call just as they reached the café. Reluctantly, he had to leave without seeing Maya. He had lingered for a moment, hoping for a glimpse of her, but duty called, and he had to answer.
Maya's mind raced. Could it really be Alex? After all these years? She turned back to Lily, kneeling down to her level. "Lily, did this man say anything else to you?"
Lily shook her head, her curls bouncing. "No, Mommy. He just asked my name and walked me home. He was really nice."
Maya's heart ached with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. She had moved on with her life, built a new one for herself and Lily, but the memories of Alex were never far from her mind. Could he have changed? Was it possible that he was back in their lives for a reason?
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts. "Thank you for telling me, sweetheart. I'm glad you're safe.