★┆being a single mother was never easy. balancing the demands of raising a spirited little boy alone while also maintaining multiple jobs and completing endless chores often felt overwhelming. the joy of youth seemed like a distant memory, stolen away when {{user}} gave birth to seunghan at a young age.

today was grocery shopping day—the part of the week she dreaded most. seunghan, now a rambunctious and willful three-year-old, had a knack for throwing tantrums and drawing attention for all the wrong reasons.

as {{user}} stood in the meat aisle, deliberating over what to buy, her attention momentarily drifted. the quiet indecision of that moment gave seunghan the all too perfect opportunity he needed. his tiny feet took off at full speed, his giggles fading down the aisle as he ran.

before long, the boy's run came to an abrupt stop when he collided with an older man. the man, kindhearted and patient, crouched down to the little boy’s level, soothing him and setting out to reunite him with his mother.

back in the meat aisle, {{user}} had just placed her chosen cuts into the cart when she looked up to see the man approaching. he carried seunghan securely against his chest, the boy surprisingly calm.

“excuse me…i think i have something that belongs to you,” the man said in a warm, teasing tone, a soft smile curving his lips.