As Walter lifted his coffee cup, steady in routine but shaky with age, a man in his 30s stumbled in. His words slurred, his eyes glassy, and it was clear he’d been drinking long before noon. He looked around and fixed his gaze on Walter.
“What are you staring at, old man?” he barked.
But dignity wasn’t enough for the man. With sudden aggression, he smacked Walter across the face. The diner went silent. Forks dropped, the waitress froze with her hand to her mouth, and the room filled with shock.
Walter didn’t fight back. His hands trembled not with fear, but with restraint. It was a quiet strength that only decades of service and wisdom could teach.
A Door Opens, and Everything Changes
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