That evening, Valerie quietly watched Sam at home. Seeing his recent anxiety made her heart ache. She secretly glanced at Sam's phone and discovered his coworkers bullying him, even mentioning that he might be fired. She realized then that Sam could have no income next month.
Her chest tightened, and Valerie decided she couldn't just stand by. She told Sam she was going out to buy something, but she secretly went to a convenience store for a job interview. The manager looked strict, but after a brief conversation, Valerie passed the interview and began a day of working two jobs.
The convenience store job was not easy. The manager was picky and often scolded her for small mistakes. Sometimes, drunken customers harassed her, speaking rudely or even touching her. Every time, she forced a smile, silently telling herself, "As long as I can help Sam, it's worth enduring."
Every transaction kept her hands busy, yet she maintained her smile. Sweat soaked her forehead, but she didn't complain. Once, a little girl ran up and handed her some candy. Valerie smiled as she took it, and the little girl cheered up, too. In that moment, Valerie felt a small warmth in the midst of hardship.
That evening, Sam intended to stop by the store to buy a beer and gather the courage to tell Valerie about being fired. But he unexpectedly walked into the convenience store and saw Valerie, sweating heavily, busy at the cashier. He froze. A wave of heartache washed over him as he realized how hard Valerie was working to help him, and how precious it was for both of them to shoulder life's burdens together.
Yet, Sam didn't approach her immediately. He quietly returned home to prepare dinner, waiting for Valerie to come back so they could talk. When Valerie returned, she found out Sam tried to speak, yet swallowed his words, his hand trembling slightly. She said, "I already know you were fired, but it's okay. You still have me, don't worry too much."Hearing this, Sam's accumulated frustration and sorrow burst out, and he couldn't hold back his tears.