For a few seconds, Chauncy didn’t move. His hand stayed in his pocket, fingers wrapped tightly around the candy bars like they might be taken from him at any moment. It wasn’t much. He knew that. And worse— It didn’t solve anything.
A man passed by a moment later, barely slowing down, and pressed a small packaged snack into Chauncy’s hand before continuing on without a word. Chauncy blinked, caught off guard. “Thank you,” he called out—but the man didn’t turn back. He slipped it into his pocket quickly. Now there was more. But not enough. Not for tonight. Not for two people.
The thought settled heavily in his chest. If he walked away now… this was all he’d have. And he already knew how that would go. His mom would smile. Tell him she wasn’t hungry. And he’d pretend to believe her.
Chauncy looked back toward the store. The doors slid open. People walked in. Walked out. No one noticed him. He swallowed. Then turned— And stepped inside anyway.