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One of the kids, a little girl with a big bow in her hair, suddenly spots me. Her doll falls from her hand, and her eyes widen. Wait, does she recognize me? She looks to be about ten years old.

“Look!” She points in my direction. “It’s Jack Calloway!” she squeals, her voice high and excited, and it startles me.

Mia turns quickly, her eyes locking onto mine. In that moment, time slows.

MIA

Ican’t believe my eyes.

Jack Calloway is standing in the garden, his figure somehow out of place among the bright, innocent faces of the children who surround him. I’m frozen in place, caught between confusion and disbelief. How did he find me here? And how do the kids know who he is?

The kids scream louder, and before I can even process what’s happening, a whole group of them rush toward him, their voices high-pitched with excitement.

I blink rapidly, trying to figure out what’s going on. The kids are absolutely delighted, practically pulling Jack into the garden. They’re all bombarding him with questions, their curious faces filled with wonder.

I try to stop them because we’ve all been playing in the garden so they’re a little dirty, but I pause when I realize Jack doesn’t mind. He embraces their closeness, not minding when some of them touch his clothes and get dirt on him.

“How did you find us?” one of them asks, genuinely bewildered.

I would have laughed at the question if I wasn’t so shocked.

“Are you here to see Mia?” an older kid asks, eyes wide and innocent.

“Did Mia bring you here?” another child pipes up, practically bouncing on their heels.

Jack’s gaze doesn’t leave me. It’s like he’s magnetized to me, even as the children surround him, their enthusiasm not fazing him in the slightest. It’s strange to see him like this, so… unguarded. I can’t decide if I feel irritated or oddly amused. Here he is, the famous actor, thrown into a world where none of that matters, surrounded by kids who only care that he’s standing right in front of them.

He smiles, but there’s something in his eyes that seems far away, like he’s trying to piece everything together. “Uh, yeah. I’m here to see Mia,” he answers the kids, his voice light and calm.

“And how did I find you all?” He pauses for a second before replying with an easy grin. “I followed the laughter.”

The kids burst into wild laughter and I gasp when they, in their excitement, practically drag Jack down to the dirt, pulling him to sit with them. I watch, wide-eyed, as he stumbles a bit but catches himself and sits down without a single complaint.

His smile is genuine, completely at ease with the chaos around him. The way they all crowd him, their voices overlapping as they ask questions and talk about their favorite movie,Bella. It’s a kid-friendly movie about a little girl who loses her parents and has to live with a long-lost uncle. Jack was the main lead in the film, and it was a huge hit. I see why the kids love him now.

And Jack—he’s just there, completely present, soaking it all in. His attention is fully on them, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he listens to their rambling stories. I’m both impressed and surprised.

For a brief second, I wonder how many people get to see Jack like this—away from the cameras, away from the staged glitz of Hollywood, just being… a normal person. It’s an odd thought. He’s a star, but right now, he’s just another adult sitting on the ground with kids in a hospital garden, playing with dirt and laughter.

I’m about to take a step forward, not sure if I should join them or step back and let him enjoy the moment, when my phone suddenly rings. The sharp sound of the ringtone jerks me from my thoughts, and I glance down at it, my eyes narrowing with suspicion when I see it’s my mom.

“Hey, Mom,” I say, trying to keep my tone neutral.

“Mia, darling, is Jack there yet?” Her voice is bright, a little too bright. I can tell she’s been waiting to hear from me about this.

I press my lips together, the frustration bubbling up in my chest. “You really sent him here, didn’t you?”

“Oh, sweetheart, calm down,” my mom responds with a laugh. “Jack seemed really concerned about you. He wanted to know where you were. Said he wanted to check on you.”

I release a sharp breath. “Mom, you know how I really am about people finding out I used to have cancer. Especially someone like Jack,” I whisper into the phone. “You should not have done this.”

There’s a pause, where I think she’s feeling a little sorry.

“I didn’t tell him about that, sweetheart. It’s your secret to tell, okay? Even though I’m not sure why you’re treating it like it’s something to be ashamed of.”

“It’s not that, Mom. I just don’t want to be looked at with pity. That’s all.”

“It’s all in your head,” she says. “If I were you, I’d announce it. Let people see how strong I am. Besides, Jack is a good guy.”