For tw0 years, I never thought twice about driving my neighbor’s daughter t0 school.

Still, there were signs that Vanessa viewed my kindness differently.

One Friday, Sophie failed to appear at 7:20.

I waited.

Then I texted Vanessa.

Five minutes later, she responded:

“Running behind. Can you wait?”

No apology.

Not even a “please.”

I waited anyway because leaving Sophie behind felt like punishing the wrong person.

When she finally ran outside, embarrassed and breathless, she climbed into the car.