Luiz didn't move. His breath came shallow, cold against the night.The tallest of the men stepped closer, grinning. "See? Cooperation makes life easy."
He reached into Luiz's pocket and pulled out the envelope."Man's working late just for lunch money," he laughed, shaking the few bills inside.
The others joined in, the sound cruel and hollow.
Luiz's fists clenched, but he didn't raise them. What was the point? There were three of them. Maybe more waiting in the dark.
"Please," he muttered. "That's all I have."
"Oh, we know," said the one on his left — and without warning, his fist connected with Luiz's jaw.
Pain exploded through his face. He stumbled backward, tasting blood. The world spun, lights smearing across his vision.
"Next time, walk faster," one of them sneered before they disappeared down the alley, laughing.
Luiz fell to his knees, hands pressed to the cold pavement. His lip throbbed, warm blood dripping down his chin.The envelope was gone.Everything — gone.
He stayed like that for a long moment, trying to breathe, trying not to break. But the night pressed down on him, heavy and silent.
When he finally stood, his reflection in a shop window stared back — tired eyes, bruised cheek, torn shirt.
He barely recognized himself.
Rain began to fall, slow and quiet at first. He didn't move. Just let it soak him, washing away the dirt, the blood… and the last bit of pride he had left.
Then, with shaking hands, he turned toward the road and started walking home — empty, bruised, and quieter than the rain itself.