The next morning brought a soft drizzle that painted the streets in silver streaks. Bobby pulled his hood up and shuffled toward the shelter for breakfast. The aroma of oatmeal and coffee drifted through the room.
His thoughts still carried the weight of yesterday. For the first time in years, loneliness sat beside him.
A gentle voice interrupted his silence.
Bobby looked up. A woman stood holding a tray. Simple clothes. Calm eyes. A quiet smile.
“Go ahead.”
She sat down.
“You look like you've had a long night.”
Bobby laughed softly. “Seems like I've been learning hard lessons lately.”
“Lessons about people?”
“Yeah... and about myself.”
Grace stirred her coffee quietly. Then she spoke words Bobby would never forget.
Those words landed deep. Heavy. Honest.
Grace looked directly into his eyes.
“You have a good heart, Bobby. Good hearts need boundaries too.”
“Jesus fed people. Jesus loved people. Jesus also stepped away when He needed prayer.”
“He did not allow people to drain what God filled.”
Bobby looked down. He thought about Raymond. Miss Ethel. Years of guilt. Years of saying yes.
Grace reached into her bag and handed him folded paper.
A handwritten prayer. Simple words. Deep truth.
Tears filled Bobby's eyes.
Grace smiled.
“Read that whenever you forget that love needs truth.”
For the first time in a long while, peace began stirring inside him. Not peace from giving. Peace from understanding.