She stands a beacon of resilience,
with a smile that never faltered
despite twelve-hour shift fatigue

a bright yellow caution sign propped
in a corner signals the warning,
the canary in a poisoned mine
nearby a bucket sits abandoned
mid-task, while children’s squeals
bounce off play equipment
and registers whirl, machinery hisses
and underpaid cashiers call “next”

nearby plastic plants dangle
in front of wallpaper with fake bricks
patrons slouch in molded plastic
seats, eating from brown trays
on white tables made of fake stone
that kills lungs and ruins lives
until a high-pitched scream erupts
for fries scattered along tiled floors

yet behind the façade of chaos
she counts her pennies and yearns
for time to mark this job unnecessary

while her mind drifts to picture
chasing visions of escaping boundaries
armed with a backpack and keyboard
in journeys of her dreams
but until that day she’ll endure
fingers dried by chemical cleaners
and aroma of rancid oil that clings
to ugly uniforms and fading name tags

volunteering for a grueling roster knowing
life will beckon her with freedom’s call
in a chapter she’ll not only endure but thrive