“Why’s she crying?” the boy whispered.

His dad handed him a sparkler, eyes fixed on the woman near the fence.

She stood alone, arms folded tight, blinking fast.

The sky boomed red and gold. Children laughed. A dog barked.

The woman didn’t flinch—just stared upward, lips pressed like a secret.

“Maybe she misses someone,” the dad said.

The boy watched her a long time.

Then walked over, held out his sparkler.

She took it.

“Thanks,” she said, voice shaking.

He smiled.

The sky lit up again.

This time, she looked down and smiled back.