“Pick that up from the floor right now!” — the manager shouted to the waitress, but the entire restaurant stopped when the woman took her apron off and said: “you’re fired.”…..

Mr. Gozon smiled.

“Well?” he muttered sharply. “Hurry up. Don’t waste my guests’ time.”

Mia inhaled deeply. Her hands touched the floor, trembling. Tears traced down her cheeks—but something inside her shifted, as if a long-closed door had begun to open.

She did not reach for the meat.

Instead, she rose.

One step. Then another. Her back straightened. Her chin lifted.