Heat rose to Lily’s face.
“I can pay for your time,” she added, her voice smaller now.
The woman exhaled softly, already losing patience. “I think it’s best if you leave.”
Lily stood still for a moment.
The humiliation wasn’t loud. It wasn’t dramatic. It was something quieter—like being erased in real time.
Still, she nodded.
“Okay.”
Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached into her coat pocket. The small cloth bundle slipped free, worn thin from years of careful folding. She had carried it so long, she could open it without looking.
But today, her hands betrayed her.
The cloth snagged.
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