A Fortunate Delay

Mara glanced at her watch and groaned. She was running late again. Hastily grabbing her keys and bag, she rushed out the door, nearly forgetting to lock it behind her. The elevator was achingly slow, so she opted for the stairs, taking them two at a time.

Outside, the morning air was crisp. Mara power-walked to the bus stop, silently willing the bus to be late. As she rounded the corner, she saw it pulling away. Frustration welled up inside her, but then she spotted her neighbor, old Mr. Chen, struggling with his groceries.

Without hesitation, Mara changed course. "Let me help you, Mr. Chen," she offered, taking some bags. His weathered face lit up with a grateful smile. As they chatted, Mara's stress melted away. She realized this unexpected delay was a gift—a moment of human connection in her usually frantic mornings.

After helping Mr. Chen to his apartment, Mara checked her phone. Her boss had emailed, pushing their meeting back an hour due to a scheduling conflict. She laughed at the serendipity, feeling lighter as she set off for work at a relaxed pace, vowing to start her days a little earlier from now on.