By the time their conversation wrapped up, the bustling airport had transformed in Margaret’s mind. It was no longer a place of abandonment and despair, but one of new beginnings. She left the café with Janet’s assurances and a plan in place, knowing that soon she’d have access to her own finances and, with it, the ability to make her own choices.

Walking back through the terminal, Margaret felt different. Her steps were still small, but they were no longer tentative. She was not just a grandmother or a widow. She was a woman reclaiming her life, one decision at a time.