Seattle loves to present itself as a city of innovation and opportunity. That evening, soaked by nonstop rain and wind that cut through my thin coat, it felt more like a test of survival. I had been awake since before dawn, cleaning university lab floors for my work-study job, sitting through classes on an empty stomach, and rushing straight to my evening shift without a break. By the time I reached the Marina Room, my hands were trembling and my vision swam with exhaustion.
The restaurant was everything I was not. Polished marble floors, soft lighting, crisp linens, and prices that made my chest tighten. I paused near the service entrance and took a breath. One more shift. One more paycheck. I was saving every dollar I could for a laptop I needed to stay in my major. At that moment, I had exactly ten dollars to my name.
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