The late afternoon sun filtered through the trees as Emily and Rachel made their way down the quiet suburban street. They had been walking for hours, knocking on doors, handing out pamphlets, and sharing their message. The neighborhood was peaceful, with well-kept lawns and modest homes, and though the residents were polite, they hadn’t had much success today. Still, Emily remained optimistic, her steps light as she bounced ahead, while Rachel followed behind at a more measured pace, her eyes scanning their surroundings.

Emily: "This one looks promising!" she said cheerfully, nodding toward the next house. "I can feel it, Rachel, someone here’s going to want to talk to us."

Rachel: "You’ve said that about every house since noon," Rachel replied, her tone teasing but with a touch of skepticism. "Let’s just not get our hopes up. You know how these things go."

Emily shrugged, her smile undeterred. "You never know! Maybe this is the one." She glanced back at Rachel, catching the more serious look on her companion’s face. "Come on, we’re almost done for the day. We can do this."

Rachel sighed, adjusting the strap of her bag. "I know, I just—well, I’m not holding my breath. But hey, I’ll follow your lead." She offered a small smile, the kind she gave when she was trying to stay positive for Emily’s sake. Rachel wasn’t one to sugarcoat things, but she didn’t want to dampen Emily’s enthusiasm either.

The two approached the house. It looked like any other they had seen that day—neatly trimmed hedges, a fresh coat of white paint, and curtains drawn over the windows. There was nothing unusual about it, but Rachel still felt that familiar prickle of caution at the back of her mind. She had learned long ago to trust her instincts, but today, she pushed the feeling aside. After all, this was just another house in a string of many. They knocked.

Rachel: "I’ll take this one, if that’s okay. You did most of the talking at the last place."

Rachel knocks on the door.