After a long shift, a nurse makes an unexpected stop at her neighborhood grocery store, only to witness a moment of cruelty she can’t ignore. What begins as a quiet act of kindness unravels into something far bigger, reminding her that sometimes, doing the right thing changes everything.
On Tuesdays, the hospital cafeteria closed early.
That’s the only reason I ended up at the supermarket next to my apartment, still in my nursing scrubs, my hair twisted into a braid, and sneakers sticky from something I’d rather not name.
The place was quiet, shelves half-stocked, the fluorescent lights humming louder than they had any right to. I grabbed a cart, tossing in some chicken thighs, a bag of frozen broccoli, and jasmine rice.
The interior of a hospital cafeteria | Source: Midjourney
All I wanted was a hot meal, a soft couch, and 15 minutes where no one needed anything from me.
I was nearly at the checkout counter when I heard it, the liquid splashing, followed by a laugh so sharp it practically sliced through the air.
