{"id":21399,"date":"2025-11-28T02:19:06","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T02:19:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=21399"},"modified":"2025-11-28T02:19:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T02:19:06","slug":"21399","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=21399","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

I walked to his booth with a plate of pancakes I hadn\u2019t rung up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I\u2019m sorry,\u201d I lied, my voice bright and breezy as I set the steaming plate down. \u201cThe kitchen made an extra order by mistake. I was just going to throw it away, but that seems like a sin, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The boy looked up. I saw a war in his eyes\u2014suspicion battling a hunger so primal it made my own stomach clench.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d I reassured him, leaning in slightly. \u201cSometimes the cook gets the tickets mixed up. Better you eat it than the trash can, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I walked away before he could protest, retreating behind the counter to watch him from the reflection in the pie case. He hesitated, his hand trembling as it reached for the fork. Then, he ate. He didn\u2019t just eat; he devoured.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I returned ten minutes later, the plate was licked clean. He didn\u2019t look at me\u2014a deliberate avoidance that stung\u2014but as I collected the dishes, I heard it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d he whispered.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I walked to his booth with a plate of pancakes I hadn\u2019t rung up. \u201cOh, I\u2019m sorry,\u201d I lied, my voice bright and breezy as I set the steaming plate down. \u201cThe kitchen made an extra order by mistake. I was just going to throw it away, but that seems like a sin, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d…<\/p>\n

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