He meticulously adjusted the display of his food items and engaged with his customers, rationalising that someone else would eventually step in to help Joe. The thought of stepping away from his cart and dealing with the situation seemed daunting, especially given his own precarious circumstances.
As the afternoon light began to fade, the city’s artificial lights flickered to life, casting a warm, artificial glow over the streets. The evening crowd started to build, a new wave of people flowing through the area, each absorbed in their own routines and destinations.