The storm had started just after midnight, the kind of relentless rain that turned city streets into rivers and made even the brightest lights feel distant and cold. Inside the office building, most of the floors were dark, but a few windows still glowed where late workers pushed through deadlines. On the ground floor, near the security desk, a small boy sat curled up in a chair, his backpack clutched tightly to his chest, his sneakers dripping water onto the polished floor.
“Mom said she’ll be back soon,” he said quietly, looking up.
