Emma sat alone on a cold bench at the train station, her shoulders hunched as silent tears streamed down her cheeks. She stared at the empty platform, feeling a tight knot of helplessness in her chest.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
She had been so excited to visit her friend, Travis, ready to support him when he needed her most. But now her purse was gone, leaving her with no money, no phone, and no way to call for help or reach out.
She couldn’t even return home, as it was no longer hers. Her landlord had raised the rent and found other tenants. Emma was supposed to find a new apartment over the weekend, but now she had no idea what to do.
“Are you okay?” a man’s voice broke through her thoughts. Emma looked up and saw a tall figure standing before her, his face oddly familiar.
“You!” she shouted, a surge of anger pushing through her sadness. “This is all your fault!”
The man’s face twisted in confusion. “Whoa, hold on. What did I do?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What did you do?” she echoed, her voice rising. “Because of you, I got robbed! I’m stranded here with nothing—no money, no phone. Nothing!”
He sighed. “Look, I didn’t mean to bump into you earlier. That was an accident.”
“Accident? Or were you working with the thief?” Emma shot back.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“If I was, would I still be hanging around here?” he asked with a slight smirk.
“Maybe you’re sticking around to fool people like me,” she snapped, crossing her arms.
He glanced at his watch and sighed again. “I can prove I had nothing to do with it. But I’ve got a train in the morning, so let’s make this quick, alright?”
Emma eyed him suspiciously. “And how exactly are you planning to prove it?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“You’ll just have to trust me.” He extended his hand toward her, waiting.
Emma paused, uncertainty flashing across her face. Finally, she took his hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet. Without a word, he guided her toward the security office at the edge of the station. She followed, feeling lost but curious.
“Wait here,” he said, giving her a quick nod before stepping inside. Emma fidgeted nervously, her mind filled with questions. After what felt like ages, he came back, grinning, followed by an older security guard.
“We need more men like you these days,” the guard said, giving him a firm pat on the shoulder before heading back.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Emma blinked, still confused. “What… just happened?”
The man chuckled. “Just a friendly chat. Now, I’ve got a lead on where your thief went.”
Emma followed him, still unsure of his plan. He led her across the platform, and her eyes widened when she saw a man in the crowd—holding her bag.
“It’s him!” she shouted, pointing. “That’s definitely him!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
The thief turned, eyes locking with hers. In an instant, he spun around and dashed onto a waiting train. The doors slid shut just as Emma tried to step forward, and the train pulled away, carrying her bag out of sight.
Beside her, the man burst out laughing.
Emma whipped around, glaring. “What’s so funny? Now all my stuff is gone! Again!”
He raised an eyebrow. “Well, maybe if you hadn’t shouted for everyone to hear, we’d still have a chance to catch him.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Emma felt her cheeks flush. “Alright, maybe it wasn’t my smartest move.”
Just then, her stomach gave a loud grumble, and she wrapped her arms around herself, embarrassed.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“No,” she lied, but her stomach growled again.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s get you something to eat.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Emma and the man found a small fast-food place near the station. They ordered burgers and fries, then sat across from each other at a tiny table by the window.
“So, why did you decide to help me?” Emma asked, still unsure about him.
He shrugged, grinning. “Well, a prince has to rescue a princess in distress, right?”
Emma raised an eyebrow. “You don’t exactly look like a prince.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
He laughed, glancing at her with a teasing look. “And not all princesses have mascara smeared all over their faces, but here we are.”
Emma blinked, then caught her reflection in the window. Her mascara had run from her earlier tears, her hair was a tangled mess, and her nose was red from the cold. Embarrassed, she grabbed a napkin, wiping her cheeks. “Well, this is as good as it gets right now.”
He watched her, smiling. “Trust me, you’re still stunning.”
Emma felt a warm blush spread across her cheeks, surprised by his words.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Their food arrived, but neither of them seemed to notice as they fell deeper into conversation. Each story or joke they shared felt strangely familiar, and Emma was surprised at how easily they connected, as if they were old friends catching up.
She laughed at his stories, and he listened closely to hers, nodding along, his eyes never leaving hers.
When the check came, he opened his wallet, pulling out some bills. Emma’s gaze fell on a small, creased photo tucked inside—a picture of a little girl and a woman with a warm smile. Something about it made her heart ache, though she couldn’t explain why.
They left the restaurant together, stepping into the night air, and walked slowly along the quiet streets, lost in a comfortable silence.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Do you believe in magic?” the man asked, a playful glint in his eye.
Emma chuckled, shaking her head. “I’m too old to believe in that.”
“No one’s ever too old for magic.” He reached into his coat sleeve, and with a swift motion, produced a train ticket. He handed it to her with a grin.
Emma’s eyes widened as she examined the ticket. It was for the very train she needed. “How did you…?” She couldn’t hide her surprise. She hadn’t told him where she was going.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I’m a magician,” he whispered, leaning closer, “but don’t tell anyone.”
She laughed, though curiosity flickered in her eyes. “Come on, I’m serious.”
“So am I,” he replied with a wink. Then, seeing her still looking puzzled, he added, “Alright, alright. I overheard you on the phone earlier, talking about where you were going, right before we bumped into each other.”
Emma narrowed her eyes. “And when did you buy the ticket?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
He leaned back, crossing his arms. “A magician never reveals all his secrets.”
She rolled her eyes, but there was a smile on her face. After a moment’s pause, he spoke again. “Look, I booked a room at a nearby hotel for tonight. If you want, you’re welcome to stay. I promise, nothing inappropriate. You can even have the bed—I’ll take the floor.”
Emma’s smile faded slightly. “Won’t your wife and daughter mind?”
He looked at her, momentarily confused, then understood. “Oh, you saw the photo.” He shook his head. “No wife. My daughter is with my ex.”