That’s sweet, but then she saw the father glance at her again. His eyes lingered, first on her damp clothes, then on the paper cup. There was something in his face that wasn’t pity, it was recognition.
You’re… Sophie, right? You used to work at Miller’s Cafe. Sophie blinked, yeah, I… Remember you, you came in every morning for a cappuccino. He nodded slowly, I thought you moved away.
Sophie hesitated. Lost my job, then my apartment, things just… happened. The man’s jaw tightened and no one helped you.
Sophie forced a smile, I’ll be fine, really. But then Lila slipped her small hand into Sophie’s. I think you’re already my friend, she whispered.
Something cracked open inside Sophie, something she’d been holding together for months. She swallowed hard, blinking back tears. The man seemed to be wrestling with something.
Finally he said, I… Can’t just walk away. He handed Sophie one of the grocery bags. Come on, it’s just dinner, nothing more.
Sophie wanted to say no. Pride screamed at her to keep her distance. But the warmth in Lila’s grip was too much to resist.
Dinner was awkward at first. Sophie sat at the polished oak table, afraid to touch anything, until Lila plopped down beside her and began chattering about her school, her favorite cartoons, and her goldfish named Mr. Bubbles. The father, Daniel, listened quietly, occasionally asking Sophie small questions….
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