“It means I'll come back.”

Emma hugged him.

Stone froze for a moment.

Then gently hugged her back.

The story spread across the country.

People talked about the 147 bikers who had gathered after a little girl walked into a diner at two in the morning.

But Stone didn't like the attention.

When reporters asked him why so many riders came, he gave the same answer.

“Because she was a kid.”

“That's all?”

“That's all.”

One reporter asked:

“Were you afraid?”

Stone smiled.

“Of course.”

“Then why did you go?”

Stone looked toward the road.

“Being afraid doesn't mean you stop.”

A year later, Emma returned to the diner.

The same neon sign still hung above the entrance.

She walked inside with her mother.

Stone was sitting at the same table.

He looked up.

“Emma.”

She smiled.

“You came back.”

“I told you I would.”

Emma sat beside him.

Her mother thanked him.

Stone shook his head.

“Don't thank me.”

“Why?”

“Because I wasn't the only one.”

He looked around the diner.

The walls were covered with photographs.