Act I “I’m sorry. It slipped.” The elderly bicycle repairman bent down to retrieve the air pump as a faint cloud of dust settled against a wealthy passerby’s dark pant leg. Most people…

Act I “I’m sorry. The wind blew them.” The words barely left the leaf cleaner’s mouth before the man in the tailored cashmere coat looked at his luxury car as though it had…

Act I “I’m sorry. The crowd pushed me.” The apology came out before the eleven-year-old girl even understood what had happened. She tightened her grip on the small tray of handmade bracelets, but…

Act I The cloth bag slipped from the bench before anyone noticed. It brushed the side of a young man’s spotless white sneaker, barely enough to leave a mark. The elderly homeless man…

Act I The brass doorbell had barely stopped ringing when the room fell quiet. An elderly woman stepped carefully into the tiny shoe repair shop, clutching a pair of cracked leather shoes that…

Act I The first thing anyone noticed wasn’t the water. It was the silence. A garden hose twisted unexpectedly, sending a light spray over the white fence. A few drops landed on the…

Act I “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll pick it up.” The twelve-year-old boy bent down the instant the empty can rolled across the jogging path. A light breeze had pushed it just far enough…

Act I “I’m sorry. Someone stepped out.” The apology came before anyone could even react. Trying to avoid another customer who had suddenly pushed back from a booth, the eight-month-pregnant waitress shifted her…

Act I “I’m sorry. The wind took it.” The older man’s apology was almost drowned out by the automatic glass doors sliding open and shut. A cold gust had rolled his empty paper…