Chapter 36: Not Everyone Gets it Right

The diner had grown quiet, the early dinner rush long gone. Only the occasional clink of dishes from the kitchen and the low hum of a radio in the back filled the air. Amelia sat with her hands wrapped around a chipped ceramic mug, grateful for the warmth seeping into her fingers. She’d stopped shaking. Mostly. Across the booth, the old woman — Mabel — had returned, wiping her hands on a cloth she tucked into her apron. “You warm enough now, sweetheart?” she asked gently. Amelia nodded. “Thank you. For the food. For… everything.” Mabel smiled and eased into the seat across from her. “You looked like you needed it. And around here, we don’t turn away people with honest eyes and empty pockets.” Amelia lowered her gaze. “It’s been… a rough few days.” “I can imagine,” Mabel said softly.