Dan and his family stood outside their grocery store, disbelief washing over them. The dirt road was strewn with shards of broken glass that glinted harshly in the sunlight.
Felix tugged timidly at the sleeve of Anna's dress. "Mommy, why is the window broken?"
Dan slammed a fist against the wooden doorframe, his voice a low roar. "Someone broke in. I could strangle them."
Anna flinched at the bitterness in his tone. Anger wouldn't put food back on the shelves. She drew a shaky breath and fished the keys from the pocket of her faded blue dress. "Let's just… see how bad it is," she whispered, though dread curled in her stomach.
The door creaked open, and they stepped inside. Glass crunched under their shoes like brittle bones. Anna's heart plummeted as her eyes swept the room.
The shelves—empty. Stripped bare.
"No…" Her voice cracked. She clutched the edge of the counter as if it could hold her up. "Everything… all our flour…" The words trembled into silence. Her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms. Weeks of careful ordering, of stretching every dollar, gone overnight.
A sharp creak from the front door startled her. Pastor Steve hurried in, his face etched with concern, his steps hesitant as he took in the ruin.
"Anna, do you have cameras installed? To find out who is responsible for this?"
Anna shook her head, looking smaller amidst the chaos. "We can't afford them."
"Retail insurance?" Steve raised an eyebrow.
Anna shook her head. "No, we don't have it!" She covered her face with both hands. Her features twisted in agony. "Dan we're bankrupt. We're going to end up on the streets!"
Dan reached for her shoulder. "Anna, breathe."
Steve stepped forward. "The church has discretionary funds. I can use them to cover your losses. I'd just need copies of your inventory receipts."
Anna's tear-streaked face hardened. "But those donations are for the new wing… so we can serve more people."
Steve's eyes softened. "If I tell the congregation it's for urgent repairs, they'll understand. The roof needs fixing anyway."
Anna bit her lip. "But it feels dishonest."
"Anna," Steve said gently, placing a hand on her arm. "You and Dan are family. Let your family help you."
"Okay." Anna sniffled. "I'll give you the paperwork."
Steve offered a reassuring smile. "I'll cover as much as I can."
Anna looked around at the ruined store, and for the first time since they'd arrived, a faint flicker of hope stirred amid the wreckage.