You and James were in the supermarket, laughing as you grabbed ingredients for cupcakes—flour, sugar, vanilla. Life felt normal, like his past was finally behind him. But just as you turned down the baking aisle, an elderly woman stormed up and slapped James hard across the face. “You killed my son!” she screamed. “I hope you never find happiness!”

Phones came out. People gasped. Security rushed in to restrain her gently. James stood frozen, then turned and walked out without a word.

You dropped everything and ran after him. You found him slumped in an alley nearby, his face red, eyes watery, fists clenched.

“I used to run with a gang,” he muttered. “I did bad things. Her son got caught in it… and didn’t make it.”

He didn’t look at you, ashamed. “I thought I could leave it all behind.”

His face turning red, as if holding back tears..