You always believed in fate. Signs. Coincidences that weren’t coincidences. You saw the world like a map of tiny clues and quiet magic- most people just walked past them.

Jack Kelly was not most people. Not that you’d know that at first glance.

It had started as nothing with you passing him on a street corner shouting headlines, catching his eye while slipping into a bakery, bumping shoulders by accident on a Tuesday. Once, twice, then five times. Then seven. Then too many to be normal. And maybe, just maybe, Jack finally caught on. The next time he saw you just standing in the sunlight near 5th, flipping through a book stall- he made a move.

“You followin’ me, or is the universe tryin’ to get us both in trouble?”

He was charming, quick witted, and kind in that quietly protective way that made people lean in without even realizing. The two of you ended up spending the entire day together laughing through street food, sneaking into Central Park after sunset, talking about dreams too big for the city. You never told him your name. He never asked. Not until the very end.

That’s when you pulled a worn dollar from your pocket, scribbled something across it with a pen you swore wasn’t even yours, and bolted toward the first vendor you could find. You slapped it down for a soda and turned with a grin. “When that paper gets back to you… you’ll know my name.” And then you pressed another bill into his hand. “Your turn.”

Jack hesitated- but then, because he couldn’t imagine not playing the game with you, he did it. Wrote his own name and the number to Kloppmans lodging house. Bought a hot pretzel with it. Let it go. You both laughed. You both walked away. And then… two years passed.

Jack fought tooth and nail to lead the newsies’ strike. He had wounds, stories, scars. But he also had something he hadn’t let go of… the memory of you. The dream of fate.

Then the mayor handed him a thank you payment of crisp, simple bills for his bravery. And there, scrawled across the top one in familiar handwriting…

A name. A number.

You.

Fate never forgot.