Chapter 4
The man’s surprise at Adam’s reaction was obvious. His posture remained rigid but the slight tilt of his head suggested he was processing this unexpected turn of events. He was silent for a long moment.
Then he looked down at the broken phone in Adam’s hand. The screen was a spiderweb of cracks. The main body was a dead piece of plastic.
"Your phone is completely broken," he stated. His voice was flat. It was a simple observation of fact.
Adam forced another smile. It felt like his facial muscles were made of wood. There was a profound sadness in the gesture. "It’s okay," he said.
"I’ll get it fixed. You don’t need to worry sir. You can go to your work." He just wanted the man to leave. He wanted to be alone with his disaster.
The man seemed pleased by this response. His tense posture relaxed. A genuine smile touched his lips for the first time.
"I’m quite impressed with you boy," he said. His voice was warmer now.
"It’s been years since I met someone like you. Even though you won’t admit it I know this was my fault. I was in a hurry. I had to check something and that’s why I didn’t see you."
Adam glanced up at the man. He was significantly taller than him. His own head barely reached the man’s shoulder.
Adam quickly concluded that the height difference was the reason the man had not noticed him.
He was insignificant. A small obstacle on the man’s important path. Adam just smiled again and said, "It’s okay sir."
Before he could say anything else the man interrupted him.