Henry always believed being single was the best way to live. No complications, no strings, no obligations. Yet one Saturday, his nine-year-old niece, Mira, would upend that mindset in a single day.
He arrived home from an abbreviated business trip at dawn, expecting a typical weekend of quiet independence. Instead, he stumbled upon a phone message from his sister, Riley, urgently requesting his help. Before he knew it, he was at her door, staring down at Mira, who was curled up on the couch with a thick encyclopedia.
“You’re the only one who can watch her,” Riley insisted, stepping around him to grab her jacket. “I won’t be back until late.”
Henry tried to protest, but his sister had already dashed outside, leaving him in charge. He glanced at Mira, who gave him a polite yet disinterested nod before returning to her book.
“So, what do you want to do today?” he asked, breaking the uneasy silence.
She shrugged without looking up. “I like reading.”
Henry nodded, feeling out of his element. He’d spent most of his adult life avoiding responsibilities like these. Now, faced with an inquisitive child, he was suddenly without a script.
It didn’t help that Mira was sharp. When she asked why he wasn’t married, he said it was easier being alone. She responded that nobody really likes being alone, and that maybe he just didn’t want to put in the effort. It stung more than he cared to admit, especially coming from a nine-year-old.
Lunchtime brought a breakthrough of sorts: Henry heated up frozen pizza against his sister’s rules, and they sat side by side on the sofa, the TV humming softly. For the first time all day, Mira relaxed, occasionally giggling at a silly commercial. Henry felt something stir—a quiet warmth he rarely experienced.
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