only went into that little corner store because my youngest wouldn’t stop crying about being hungry. I thought maybe I could find something cheap, anything really, to tide us over. But eggs were $4.29 and I only had $1.67 left in my wallet. I stood there staring at that carton for what felt like forever. Then I just… slipped it into my coat pocket.

Of course, the cashier saw me. He didn’t yell, didn’t make a scene, just said, “You wanna pay for those?” I panicked and ran. Dumb move, I know. I didn’t even make it past the alley before a patrol car pulled up.