I forced a smile. But he reached down and tilted my chin up with his hand, forcing my eyes to meet his.
Then his thumb brushed across my cheek. The touch was ice-cold as it swept past the corner of my eye.
I'd been crying. Tears had already streaked down my entire face.
He said my name. "Elaine. After all these years, this is what you've become."
I looked up at him from my knees. At that face that had once wept for me. At those eyes that had once held nothing but me.
"You earned your money standing tall. I earned mine on my knees. We're both just trying to put food on the table. What makes you better than me?"
Sean stared at me for a long time. Then, suddenly, he smiled.
"I hope you're still this tough later."
He turned, slid his arm around Rebecca's waist, and walked out the door.
I stayed on my knees, bills crumpled in my fist, tears still wet on my face.
The manager walked over and nudged my shin with her foot.
"Alright, alright, they're gone. Clean yourself up. Weren't you taking the afternoon off for the hospital? Get going."
I managed a smile at her, took the money, and limped out on bruised knees, hobbling all the way to the hospital.