He was leaving the department.
Retirement.
She congratulated him.
He asked if she would meet him for coffee one last time.
She agreed.
They sat at the same coffee shop where they had spoken before.
Daniel looked older.
Maya did too.
Life had moved forward.
“You ever think about that day?” he asked.
“Sometimes.”
“Me too.”
Daniel looked through the window.
“I've wondered what would have happened if you hadn't come back.”
Maya considered it.
“I probably would have tried to forget.”
“And?”
“I don't know.”
Daniel nodded.
“I do.”
Maya looked at him.
“I would have continued believing my report was correct.”
The honesty of the statement surprised her.
Daniel smiled.
“I've learned something since then.”
“What?”
“Sometimes the person across from you is not your enemy.”
Maya smiled.
“That sounds simple.”
“It wasn't simple for me.”
“No.”
They both laughed.
Daniel reached into his coat pocket.
He pulled out a small notebook.
“I keep this with me.”
Maya looked at it.
“What is it?”
“My reminder.”
He opened it.
On the first page were three words.
Slow down. Listen. Verify.
Maya smiled.
“That's a good reminder.”
Daniel closed the notebook.
“I wanted to thank you.”
“For what?”
“For refusing to let me be comfortable with being wrong.”
Maya thought about the question.
Then she said:
“I didn't do it for you.”
“I know.”
“I did it because I knew what happened.”
Daniel nodded.
“And because of that, I became better at my job.”
Maya smiled.
“Then I'm glad.”
They finished their coffee.
When they stood, Daniel offered his hand.
Maya shook it.
There was no resentment in the gesture.
No friendship either.
Just understanding.