She quickly knelt down, desperately trying to gather up some of the mess with a small tissue, but it was obviously pointless. The entire thing was a complete wreck. People in the line behind her started sighing loudly, and someone mumbled a complaint about the sudden delay. The store manager quickly came over, carrying a mop and wearing a professional, but tight-lipped, smile.
The Crumbling of Smugness
Her face was turning red, her eyes were glistening with unshed tears, and her hands were trembling slightly. In that moment, I understood that she wasn’t actually rude. She was just desperate and clearly stressed.
The cashier kindly handed her a large garbage bag for the ruined cake. She nodded, whispering a quiet thank you, and slowly walked away. She moved as if her body suddenly weighed a hundred kilos more than usual. I just stood there, watching her go, feeling a confusing mix of pity and regret.
I can’t explain what came over me, but I grabbed my shopping cart and followed her right out of the store. She was sitting on a simple bench near the parking lot, staring down at her phone. She hadn’t even driven away yet. I gently tapped her shoulder, and she looked up at me, clearly startled.
“Hey,” I said softly. “Sorry about before… I didn’t realize you were going through something.”
She blinked, looking confused. “It’s fine. I shouldn’t have asked to cut. You said no, that’s fair.”Continue reading…
