From Useless To Indispensable

Encounter

As the first light of dawn crept through the window of his apartment, Larry Conrad found himself haunted by the events of the previous evening. Try as he might, he couldn't shake the image of the tear-streaked woman who had embraced him so unexpectedly, her eyes filled with sorrow and desperation.

Pacing back and forth in his living room, Larry's mind raced with a flurry of questions and uncertainties. Who was she, and why had she reacted so strongly to seeing him? The memory of her tearful embrace gnawed at his conscience, leaving him feeling unsettled and perplexed.

With a heavy sigh, Larry sank onto the couch and buried his face in his hands, his thoughts consumed by the enigmatic stranger who had crossed his path. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to their encounter than met the eye, a sense of mystery that left him feeling both intrigued and unnerved.

Lost in his reverie, Larry was startled by the sudden ringing of his phone, pulling him back to the present with a