Unexpected Generosity

Sarah pushed open the creaky door, the memories of her first encounter with Lauryn lingering in the air. There was a low hum of conversation from the men lining the bar, but all tables were empty on this Tuesday afternoon. Sarah spotted Lauryn in the same corner, a solitary figure nursing a glass of wine. Taking a deep breath, Sarah approached, the familiar pang of resentment and empathy weighing her down.

"Lauryn," Sarah said in a cracking voice.

Lauryn looked up with questions in her eyes. "Sarah, hi," she said, offering a small, uncertain smile.

They exchanged pleasantries, but the heaviness in the air couldn't be ignored. The elephant in the room lingered until Sarah decided to address it.

"Well, things are certainly coming along," Sarah said gently, gesturing towards Lauryn's subtle baby bump.

Lauryn's gaze dropped to her glass. "Yes. It’s been an unplanned adventure.”

"I can't imagine how tough it must be for you," Sarah added, genuine concern etched on her face. “Should you be drinking?”

Lauryn smiled at Sarah’s motherly tone. “It’s the first wine I’ve had since learning I was pregnant. I won’t have another.”

Sarah hesitated for a moment before reaching into her bag. She pulled out an envelope, placing it on the table in front of Lauryn. "I know it's not much, but I want to help with the expenses," Sarah explained, her eyes locked with Lauryn's.

Lauryn blinked, her gaze shifting from the envelope to Sarah. "What's this?"

"It's only a small piece of what I’ll eventually get in my divorce settlement with David," Sarah admitted, her voice carrying a hint of bitterness. "I wanted to make sure you got something, too."

Lauryn's eyes welled with tears as she opened the envelope. Inside was a check made out to her for $20,000.

"Sarah, I… I don't know what to say," Lauryn stammered, her voice choked with gratitude.
"I hope it helps," Sarah replied, a sincerity in her eyes that Lauryn hadn't expected.

Touched by Sarah's unexpected generosity, Lauryn reached across the table, her hand covering Sarah's. "Thank you. This means more to me than you can imagine."

Sarah managed a soft smile. Despite the complicated past and the pain that lingered between them, a moment of understanding passed between the two women separated in age by fifteen years.

Lauryn’s hand lingered and Sarah looked at it. It was immaculate, gentle, and pretty. Sarah noticed Lauryn’s nails were natural, unlike Sarah’s manicured hands. Sarah imagined Lauryn’s fingers curled around David’s cock and how captured he must have been by the affections of a younger woman.

Lauryn noticed tears in Sarah’s eyes and clasp her hand before drawing it back across the table.

In the quiet bar, the weight of Lauryn's situation was temporarily lifted, if only by the genuine act of kindness from an unlikely person.