“After the heavy rain, workers lifted the cover of the sewer to check if water was flowing properly. The air smelled damp, and trucks rumbled nearby. Later that afternoon, in sewing club, my grandmother showed me how a skilled sewer can stitch cloth neatly, turning scraps into a beautiful quilt. She laughed at my uneven lines but encouraged me to keep practicing. That evening, as we walked home, the city lights reflected on puddles near the sewer, while my grandmother carried the fabric she had been working on.”