She told herself, “If I can keep going just one more month, maybe I’ll meet someone who will love me for me and not for my money.”
Every day was a challenge. Every smile, every gesture, was a test. But Marie was brave. She knew why she had made this choice, and she would not give up.
That was how the weeks passed for Marie. The mockery, the provocations, the inappropriate gestures, the scornful looks—all of it was part of her life now.
But despite everything, she moved forward, silent but determined. She felt that something important would happen if she just kept holding on.
The days went by. Marie kept working hard at the restaurant. The mockery from the young women and the arrogant men did not stop. Sometimes she came back to her small apartment in the evening completely exhausted, her legs aching.
But she always repeated, “I must keep going. Maybe I’ll find someone who loves me for me.”
As the weeks passed, Marie began to understand simple life better. She smiled at customers, took orders quickly, and became more confident.
One day, early in the afternoon, a man entered the restaurant. He was alone.
His clothes were simple, slightly wrinkled. His face showed fatigue. His eyes revealed that he had been through hard days. He sat quietly in a corner.
Marie noticed him immediately.
He was not laughing. He was not speaking loudly. He was not trying to provoke anyone. He seemed different—truly different from the other men who came to the restaurant.
Marie approached him with her tray.
“Good afternoon, sir. Is everything all right?” she asked softly.
“Good afternoon. Yes, thank you,” he replied with a faint smile.
Marie paused for a moment to refill his glass.
“You look tired,” she said gently. “Is everything okay at work or somewhere else?”
The man looked at her with surprise. Then he answered, “I… I come here to rest a little. To escape certain things.”
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