Chapter 20 - RESPECTYears later, Clara returned to the restaurant.
Margaret was older.
Her hair was completely white now.
But her smile remained warm.
Clara sat beside her.
“Do you remember the first day we met?”
Margaret laughed softly.
“I remember the woman in pink.”
Clara smiled.
“And I remember the woman everyone refused to see.”
Margaret became quiet.
Then she reached for Clara's hand.
“You saw me.”
Clara shook her head.
“I only gave you a seat.”
Margaret smiled.
“Sometimes, that is enough to change someone's life.”
They sat together in silence.
Around them, people were eating.
Laughing.
Talking.
No one cared what anyone was wearing.
No one was standing outside the door.
Margaret looked toward the entrance.
The sign above it remained unchanged:
EVERYONE HAS A SEAT HERE.
Clara squeezed her hand.
And Margaret smiled.
Because the world had once judged her by her clothes.
But in the end…
May you like
It was her kindness that people remembered.
THE END
