“It’s okay,” I said gently. “Just take them.” I tried to smile, but it came out soft and sad, like I knew this wasn’t just about apples.
She stared at me, like I’d handed her a winning lottery ticket. “I can’t repay you,” she whispered. There was shame in her eyes, but more than that, there was sheer exhaustion.
“You don’t have to,” I told her. I meant it in the deepest way a person can mean something.
She nodded, grabbed the bags, whispered “thank you” like it was a prayer, and walked out fast like she was afraid she’d fall apart if she didn’t. The door jingled behind her, and for a second, the whole store seemed quieter.
Read more on the next page ⬇️⬇️⬇️
