Ral woke Monday morning with unfamiliar feeling—something resembling determination instead of just resignation to another day of survival. Meeting David had shifted something. Seeing Maya build real life with someone who accepted her despite everything made Ral realize he was choosing isolation rather than accepting it as inevitable.
He could choose differently.
At warehouse that morning, coworker named James invited him to join group getting lunch together.
"Thanks, but I usually eat alone," Ral started to decline automatically.
Then stopped himself. "Actually, yes. I'll come."
James looked surprised. "Really? You've turned us down for two years straight. Thought you hated everyone."
"I don't hate anyone," Ral said. "Just got used to being alone. Trying to get unused to it."
Lunch
