The next two days were busy.
Stephanie and Maya woke up early each morning and walked around the village, trying to figure out what they needed to begin their little plan.
Their new apartment was still mostly empty.
They had bought only the things they truly needed.
A few simple clothes.
A soft mat to spread on the floor.
And a small duvet they both shared at night.
It wasn't much, but it was enough.
At night, they would lay on the mat side by side, staring at the ceiling and talking about their plans for the future.
And for the first time in a while, those conversations felt hopeful.
On the third morning, they began preparing for their new business.
Using part of the money Adrian had unknowingly given them a chance to rebuild with, they bought some basic cooking equipment from a small market nearby.
A portable gas stove.
A frying pan.
A small table.
Plastic plates and cups.
And a simple umbrella to shield them from the sun.
It wasn't a restaurant.
It was just a tiny roadside food stand.
But to them, it felt like the beginning of something important.
By noon, they had set up their small table near a roadside where people often passed by on their way to work or the market.
Stephanie adjusted the umbrella carefully.
Maya arranged the plastic plates neatly.
They looked at each other.
"Ready?" Maya asked.
Stephanie smiled nervously.
"As ready as we'll ever be."
They started with simple things they had learned from the old restaurant.
Fried rice.
Egg sandwiches.
And small portions of noodles.
At first, people only walked past them.
Some glanced at the stand with curiosity.
Others ignored it completely.
An hour passed.
Then another.
Maya rested her chin on her hand.
"This is harder than I thought."
Stephanie laughed softly.
"It's our first day."
Just as Maya was about to respond, a man walking by stopped and looked at the food.
"How much for the sandwich?" he asked.
Stephanie quickly stood up.
"Three euros."
The man nodded.
"Alright, give me one."
Maya's face lit up as she quickly prepared the sandwich and handed it to him.
He paid and walked away.
Both girls stared at the small coins now sitting on the table.
Their first sale.
Maya suddenly grabbed Stephanie's hands.
"We did it!"
Stephanie laughed.
"It's just one sandwich."
"But it's the first one!"
Slowly, as the afternoon passed, a few more people stopped by.
Some bought food.
Some asked questions.
Some promised to come back later.
It wasn't a lot.
But it was something.
As the sun began to set, Stephanie counted the small amount of money they had made.
It wasn't much.
But it was honest.
Maya leaned against the table, smiling tiredly.
"You know what?"
"What?" Stephanie asked.
"This feels better than everything Vanessa offered."
Stephanie nodded quietly.
Because this time…
Every small coin on that table belonged to them.