In that instant, I could see my wallet sitting on the kitchen counter where I’d dropped it after buying gas earlier.
Heat flushed up my neck.
A cashier at the nearby register, a guy I recognized from other nights, glanced over.
His name tag said “Luis.”
“Everything okay?” he called.
“I, uh…forgot my wallet,” I said, trying to laugh it off while my stomach twisted. “I’m so sorry. I’ll just void this and put everything back.”
I started lifting bags off the tiny metal scale, already mentally mapping the store so I could return everything to its exact spot, like that would somehow make up for existing.
Luis walked over before I could finish.
“Hang on,” he said.
He checked the screen, then looked at my bags.
Without making it dramatic, he pulled out his wallet, took out a card, and slid it into the reader.
“No,” I blurted.
“No, please don’t do that. I can come back tomorrow. Really.”
His coworker at the main register frowned over.
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