Nancy’s son Henry had been her everything. After his tragic death in an accident at 17, she clung to a tradition: every year, she baked his favorite apple and cinnamon pie and placed it on his grave, a ritual that helped her feel connected to him.
This year, however, her visit brought an unexpected discovery. The pie she left was gone, and in its place was a note that simply read, “Thank you.” Determined to understand what had happened, Nancy baked another pie and stayed to watch.
To her surprise, a young boy appeared, hesitating as he approached the grave. Thin and ragged, he knelt, scribbling a “thank you” on a scrap of paper before reaching for the pie.
