Chapter Text
The day started like any other in December. Three inches of fresh snow covered the ground, making the outside look like a winter wonderland. The air was crisp, and the morning was quiet, except for the soft crunch of snow underfoot. Eliza, eight months pregnant, woke up early. She felt the familiar heaviness in her belly as she got ready for the day. Her husband had already left their warm apartment, leaving her with a feeling of his absence.
After getting her young children ready for school, she settled into her morning routine. Philip, her oldest son, needed some help getting ready, but he managed to put on his coat and scarf. Just before he walked out the door, he turned to her with a big smile and kissed her on the cheek. "Love you, Ma! Come get me if you need me," he said, sounding so sure of himself. She felt her heart melt as she watched him walk away, his tall figure disappearing into the snow.
As she returned to their apartment, the warmth of her children's laughter began to fade, replaced by the realization that her husband, Alexander, had once again forgotten his lunch on the kitchen counter. A sigh escaped her lips as she glanced at him, exasperation mixing with affection as she thought, "Oh, Alex, what am I going to do with you?"
Eliza quickly packed his lunch in a simple brown bag. It had a sandwich, an apple, and a small treat. She put on her shoes and her thin, worn brown coat, the only one they could afford. The coat felt even thinner in the biting cold. She put the apartment key in her pocket and stepped outside.
She took a moment to calm herself and breathed deeply, letting the cold air fill her lungs before stepping out into the chilly street. The walk to Alex's workplace was 18 blocks away, and it felt hard to face. But with determination, she started walking, her breath visible as steam in the frosty air. Each step felt heavier as her fingers throbbed from the cold. She couldn’t help but wonder why she chose to go out today, especially in this weather.
"Mis! Mis!" a voice called from behind her. Startled, Eliza turned to see a boy limping toward her with a crutch under his arm. His face was flushed, and he looked determined. "Would you like to buy a paper, please?" he asked, his excitement clear despite the cold air around them.
"I'm sorry, I don't have any money right now," Eliza said, her teeth chattering from the cold. The young boy looked worried and leaned closer to her, searching her eyes. "Miss, are you okay?"
"I'm okay, just cold," she said to him, even though she felt the cold getting into her bones. As he looked at her closely, he noticed her swollen belly and his eyes grew wide with surprise. "Hey, Mis, I don't want to be rude, but how many months along are you?" he asked.
"About eight," she replied with a small smile. The boy looked at her for a moment, then moved his crutch to the other side. In a kind gesture, he took off his jacket and placed it over her shoulders. He smiled brightly, making the cold feel a little less harsh. "Here you go, Miss. I'm almost done. Please return it to the Manhattan Newsboys' lodging house tonight," he said cheerfully. "Ask for Crutchie; that's me," he added before limping away down the street, leaving Eliza surprised.
The boy's kind gesture warmed her as she walked to the harbor. Ahead of her stood Alexander's office, a grand building with a shiny marble exterior that contrasted with the gray sky. She approached her husband’s office and gently knocked on the door.
"Come in," Alexander said in a warm voice. When she entered the room, his eyes brightened at the sight of her. He quickly walked around his desk and hugged her tightly, wrapping her in his strong arms. He kissed her gently on the forehead. "What brings you here?" he asked, seeing the worry on her face.
"It's not safe for the baby in this weather," He said, handing him his lunch with a small smile that hid her tiredness. "You're a lifesaver," he replied, smiling as he took the bag from her.
Noticing the jacket draped over her shoulders, he raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "What’s this? Where did you get that?"
Eliza took a deep breath to calm herself. "Something strange happened on my way here," she said. "A boy came up to me and offered to sell a paper. When I said no, he saw that I was cold and kindly gave me his coat."
"Did he say where to return it?" Alexander asked, curious.
"Yes, he said to take it back to the Newsboy lodging house," she replied. She felt a growing admiration for the young boy.
"Can I go with you?" Alexander eagerly asked. "I want to thank this young man.” Eliza nodded, touched by her husband’s kindness and excited to share the story of the unexpected hero she met on her journey.