The afternoon air was cool as a tired single father pushed open the heavy glass doors of an elegant boutique. His coat was frayed at the cuffs, and his shoes had long since lost their shine. Still, he held his daughter’s small hand gently and whispered, “We’ll just look for something simple, sweetheart. It’s your birthday today.”
Inside, the store sparkled with crystal chandeliers and marble floors that gleamed like mirrors. Well-dressed shoppers moved slowly, their laughter soft and polished, their handbags adorned with gold clasps. Every surface in that place seemed to whisper of money and privilege.
