“Hi there,” she said, her voice light as she began scanning the items. One beep after another seemed to echo in Jacob’s ears, each one a reminder of the mounting total. The cashier paused for a moment, her eyes flicking to Jacob’s jacket. It was an old camo one, frayed at the edges but still sturdy.
“Did you serve in the military?” she asked, curiosity softening her tone. Jacob glanced up, startled by the question. “Yeah,” he said after a beat, his voice quiet. “A long time ago.” She gave him a genuine smile, her hands pausing briefly over the items.