When Ellen visits Paul’s grave, she finds a pair of children’s shoes beside his headstone. Initially, she assumes it’s a mistake, thinking a grieving parent left them behind. But as time goes on, more shoes appear—red rain boots, green sneakers—each a silent reminder of a life she never had.
One cold morning, Ellen discovers a woman placing a tiny pair of brown sandals next to the shoes. “Hey! You!” she shouts, approaching. To her shock, it’s Maya, Paul’s former secretary, who looks broken and sad.
“Maya?” Ellen whispers. The truth unravels: Maya hands her a worn photograph of Paul cradling a baby boy. “His name is Oliver,” she says, tears streaming down her face. “He’s Paul’s son.”
Ellen’s world tilts. Paul, the man she thought she knew, had a secret life. Anger bubbles inside her, but Maya explains how Oliver wants to connect with his father through the shoes.
Ellen’s heart softens. “You don’t have to stop,” she replies, surprising herself. “If it helps Oliver, it’s okay.”
In that moment, they forge an unexpected bond through shared loss. Ellen realizes that Oliver is part of Paul, and perhaps, a way to heal.
As she leaves, Ellen no longer dreads visiting the grave. The tiny shoes transform from haunting reminders into symbols of connection and hope. With each visit, she begins to open her heart to Oliver, finding a family she never knew she needed.
