Wait, how much do I need to buy this can of Coke with this tuna sandwich? »
1.50€ plus 4.10€—okay, that’s… around 5.50€.
No, wait. I need the exact amount.
Do I even have enough?
I open my banking app like a fortune teller reading bad omens.
5.29€.
Shit.
I could put the Coke back.
Or the sandwich.
Or just pretend I was never hungry to begin with.
The cashier stares.
The line behind me grows.
I do that awkward, broke-person chuckle,
like haha money is a social construct—
but my stomach growls like it strongly disagrees.
« Uh, I’ll just use my card. »
Declined.
Sweat forms. Options shrink.
I consider running. Faking an emergency.
Just evaporating into thin air.
But instead, I dig into my pocket,
pull out one crumpled bill,
forty-six cents in coins,
and the last ounce of my dignity.
The cashier sighs. The line groans.
I take my sad sandwich, my shame,
and my 0.29€ left to my name.
And tomorrow?
We do it all over again.