“I don’t need help,” she said gently. The words landed the same as always. A no. Chauncy nodded quickly, already stepping back.
“Okay, thank you anyway,” he said, forcing a small smile like it didn’t matter. He turned slightly, ready to retreat to his usual spot—
“Wait.”
He stopped. Turned back. The woman was reaching into one of her bags, moving things aside before pulling something out. Two candy bars. She held them out to him.
“It’s not much,” she said, almost apologetically.
Chauncy stared for a second, caught off guard. Then he reached out carefully and took them. “Thank you,” he said, quieter this time. And he meant it more than he could explain.
As she walked away, Chauncy slipped the candy bars into his pocket, pressing his hand against them. It wasn’t enough. But for the first time that day—it wasn’t nothing.
For a few seconds, Chauncy didn’t move. His hand stayed in his pocket, fingers wrapped tightly around the candy bars like they might disappear. It wasn’t much. He knew that. And worse—it didn’t solve anything.
