“The 7:14 Walk That Taught Me How to Stop Running”

She hummed—quietly, almost under her breath—songs I didn’t recognize.

Old songs.

Ones that didn’t rush.

And then there was 7:14 PM.

Exactly 7:14.

Not 7:10. Not 7:15.

At 7:14, she knocked on my office door.

Always the same rhythm. Two soft taps.

“Come on.”

Not “Do you want to?”