Samuel decided to stay exactly where he was. Nathan was smiling. Sasha was humming. The room felt full in the best way, and he did not want to interrupt it with one more obligation.

So he sat down with them. He laughed when Nathan accidentally colored one of the giraffes purple. He reached for another cinnamon roll he did not need. For a little while, the morning remained soft.

But later came faster than he expected.

Shoes. Ties. Car keys. A missing notebook. The hurried gathering of Bibles and bags.

By the time they were in the car, his notes still sat unread.

He told himself he knew the material. He told himself it would be fine.

And it was fine.

But only fine.

That afternoon, as he replayed the public talk in his mind, he knew it had lacked something. Not polish. Not confidence.

Heart.

Not because he did not care, but because he had not made room to care carefully.