Margaret reached the hospital before visiting hours ended. Daniel was unconscious, with his grandfather sitting beside him. When Margaret introduced herself, the elderly man began crying. He recognized her name immediately. Daniel had spoken about the nurse who comforted him after his mother’s death. His grandfather explained that Daniel had saved money from weekend jobs to purchase those coffees. Every payment represented another morning he wanted to thank her. Margaret sat beside the bed, gently holding Daniel’s hand. “You never needed to repay me, sweetheart,” she whispered.

His grandfather handed Margaret a small envelope discovered inside Daniel’s backpack. Written across it were three words: For the nurse. Inside was a photograph of Daniel as a little boy, standing beside his mother. On the back, he had written a message that made Margaret cry. “Thank you for staying when everyone else had gone.”