Gemotions

It was the new security system that gave it away. The cameras, the sensors, the reinforced windows. Mr. Chen, the quiet librarian, had become the target of thieves after a lucrative investment.

I remembered the countless hours he’d spent helping me with my research, the patience he had shown. The thought of him, now living in fear, made my stomach clench.

I started leaving him small gifts: a fresh loaf of bread, a book about security, anything to let him know he wasn't alone. It was a meager gesture, but it felt like the only thing I *could* do.