APPEARANCES
A woman of about seventy years old entered a clothing store.
Her hair was disheveled, her clothes worn, her sandals tired.
In her hands, a crumpled plastic bag.
And on her face… a weary expression.
Shiba inu would surprise later
Barely had she crossed the threshold when two saleswomen began to observe her out of the corner of their eye.
— She won’t buy anything…
— She’s probably just here to look.
In a soft, almost timid voice, the woman asked if there were any evening dresses.
The saleswomen exchanged a glance, then one of them replied curtly:
— And why would you want a dress like that? Here, we sell elegant items.
The woman lowered her eyes, without responding.
But instead of leaving, she began to rummage through the racks…
Until she stopped in front of a red dress.
She held it close and smiled softly.
— This one is perfect, she said.
The saleswomen looked at her mockingly, until one stepped forward:
— This dress costs more than five thousand pesos… are you going to pay for it?
The woman took out an old envelope from her bag.
And emptied it on the counter.
Bills, coins, some crumpled… others dirty.
But the money was there. Counted just right.
The saleswomen fell silent.
— Who is the dress for? asked one, in a completely different tone.
With shining eyes, the woman replied:
— For my daughter.
Today, she would have turned eighteen.
I had her when I thought I could no longer be a mother.
The doctors said it was impossible… but God gifted her to me.
She passed away two months ago.
But I promised that, for her birthday… I would give her the dress she loved the most.
And this is it.
She had shown it to me in a photo before she left.
Sometimes, we judge people without knowing what their soul silently carries.
And when we only look at appearances…