Back on My Feet

After my company was bankrupted, my enemies broke both my legs.

With nowhere else to turn, I had to swallow the pride I had spent my whole life holding on to and selling snacks by the busy street, just trying to survive.

That day, I set up my stall like usual.

Through the noise and laughter on the street, I saw Anna Henderson. She was wearing an elegant trench coat and the diamond necklace at her throat glittered. Beside her stood Marvin Abbott, her first love.

I stared at her face, wanting to just take one more look. I knew that this might be the last time I ever saw her in person. Soon, she would be moving overseas with Marvin to expand their business.

After that, I could only see her on the television. But, there was no television where I lived.

"Excuse me? My hot dog!" The annoyed voice beside me snapped me back to reality.

The customer in front of me was getting impatient, so I quickly put her hot dog skewer into a paper bag and then handed it over.

The customer looked around for a while, then frowned. "Do you have Venmo?"

I pressed my lips and forced a smile. "I don't have a phone. Is cash alright?"

The customer rummaged through her bag and pulled out two wrinkled bills before putting them into the plastic bucket beside me. As she walked off, she mumbled, "No phone? In this day and age? How outdated!"

I carefully picked up the two bills.

After deducting costs, I would still have about a hundred dollars left from today's sales. I could use that to buy medicine in the next few days. But not too much, or I would not have money for food.

As I sank into deep thought, Anna quietly appeared in front of me.

She studied me carefully.

I quickly lowered my head, my palms covered with sweat as my heart skipped a beat. Had Anna recognized me? When I realized that possibility, all I could feel was being on edge and anxious.

I almost wanted to run under Anna's sharp gaze.

After all, Anna was the last person in the world I wanted to see. I did not want her to recognize me. I did not want her to see me in such a terrible state.

Then Marvin walked up beside her and broke the silence. "What's wrong, Anna?"

Anna's cold expression softened the moment she saw him. "The hot dog skewer smells so good. We used to love eating these back in college. You always said you were full, then gave all yours to me."

Her eyes warmed as Marvin smiled. "Things are different now. Our lives are only going to get better."

I did not dare to speak. Instead, I quickly assembled a hot dog skewer and gave it to Anna. Anna took them and placed a ten-dollar bill in the bucket.

Only after they left did I raise my head. I looked at the intern I had once kept by my side.

Now, she had become someone extraordinary, someone from another world.

I lowered my gaze to my ragged clothes and smiled bitterly.

I guess I was fooling myself. I was wearing a face mask, my body was covered in smoke and grease, and my hair was a mess. I looked nothing like the wealthy man I used to be.

How could Anna possibly recognize me?