a constant reminder of the weight he carried, of the house that hung in the balance and the debt he'd never been prepared to handle. The noises of the diner-laughter, the clinking o

ible sum he couldn't imagine clearing, yet

ed a cup of coffee over to table nine, his gaze distant, his thoughts tangled. He se

h, I didn't order coffee," he said, his voice breakin

eeks. "Oh, I... I'm so sorry, sir," he mumbled, quickly glancing at the tables around him. His

, giving him a sympathetic look that o

hat," he said, moving to her table and setting the coffee

g, though her eyes carried a softness that hint

the stares of the customers linger on his back. He could feel the shame curling in his stomach, his shoulders

n his hands. Every cup he served, every plate he cleared-it was all a countdown, a way of moving forward,

startled, to see his boss, Mr. Grant, watching him with a loo

. Grant to the quieter area near the kitchen entrance. Mr. Grant turned to face

low and filled with a genuine concern that on

nsidered brushing it off, just shrugging and pushing forward. But the weight of everything pres

orrowed a lot of money. More than I realized. And now... now the house..." His throat tightened, and he swallow

f weight to carry," he murmured, his voice laced with sympathy. "Look, Nathan, if you need to take some time to

Really. But... but I can't," he said, his voice almost pleading. "Every penny matters right now. I

in his eyes. "Alright, Nathan," he said finally, giving a small nod. "If that's what you

the counter, feeling Mr. Grant's gaze linger on him as he left. The kindness in his boss's eyes had been almost too much; it had pressed against

to the tasks at hand. Each step, each small act felt like he was putting one foot in front of the

ffee, clearing tables, ringing up orders, trying to stay grounded in the small, familiar rhythms of his job. With every custom

ible sum, to the house, to the people waiting to take it away if he couldn't find a way out. A

eep going, clinging to the hope-small and fragile t