Chapter 3: The Choice of Warmth
Chapter 3: The Choice of Warmth
The man in the security uniform appeared at the alley entrance.
But he wasn’t alone.
Behind him stood an elderly woman holding a basket of unsold bread, her hands shaking from cold or age—or both.
“I saw everything,” she said quietly.
The guard looked uncomfortable. “Ma’am, this isn’t—”
She raised a hand. “Enough.”
She stepped forward, looking at Moon for a long moment. Then she gently placed the basket on the ground.
“Take what you need,” she said.
Moon’s eyes widened. “Why…?”
The woman smiled faintly. “Because once, someone did the same for me.”
Silence fell again, but this time it wasn’t heavy.
It was different. Softer.
Linh looked at Moon. Moon looked at the bread. The guard looked away, his face unreadable.
Then Moon did something unexpected.
She didn’t grab everything.
She took only one more piece.
And placed the rest back into the basket.
“For others,” she said quietly.
The wind outside didn’t feel as sharp anymore.
The alley, once forgotten, became something else entirely—for just a few minutes.
A place where people chose to see.
Linh stood up, holding her hand out again.
“Come with me,” she said.
This time, Moon didn’t just take her hand.
She held it like she believed she was allowed to keep it.
May you like
And together, they walked out of the alley.
END.
