When everything was sorted out, Arthur’s mother gently touched his arm and said, “You should have trusted your neighbor. She helped me today when you couldn’t.” Her voice was warm, not scolding, and I could see her words sank deep. Arthur apologized repeatedly—first to the officers, then to me.
He explained that he’d been overwhelmed by personal stress, and when he discovered his mother wasn’t home, he let worry cloud his judgment. The police concluded that it was simply a misunderstanding and assured me I had done nothing wrong. When they left, Arthur stayed behind for a moment, still apologizing and thanking me for taking care of his mom.
