“No one came to my graduation. Days later, Mom texted me: ‘I need 2,100 for

The officer on the left, a tall man with a steady gaze, nodded politely. “May we come in?” he asked. There was no urgency in his voice, but the request was firm, leaving little room for denial. I hesitated, glancing around my small apartment, still strewn with remnants of post-graduation chaos. “Of course,” I said, stepping aside to let them enter.

As they settled into my modest living room, I couldn’t help but wonder what had brought them here. I’d lived quietly, kept to myself, and aside from my family, had no pressing issues with anyone. The officer’s next words, however, pulled me straight into the vortex of the unexpected.

“We received a call regarding a welfare check,” he explained. “Your mother was concerned when she couldn’t reach you after the graduation.”