The Routine Exchange
“Mr. Tim!” Lily calls out eagerly, her voice a cheerful bell. Tim, the garbage man, greets her with his usual warm smile, kneeling just enough to take the frosted gift from her small hands.
There’s something tender in the exchange, and every Friday this brief moment plays out like a sweet, unspoken ritual.
Despite the routine, today feels different, and I begin to notice the subtleties.