He approached the checkout slowly, pretending to be just another shopper. As he placed a few items on the counter, he offered Kendra a kind smile. “Rough day, huh?” he said softly.
She hesitated, clearly startled by his gentle tone. “It’s been… a bit challenging,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
“What’s your name? I’m Dan,” he introduced himself, offering a friendly hand. Her eyes widened slightly, but she shook his hand. “Kendra,” she replied, managing a small smile despite her evident distress.
