The next morning, Margaret rose from her narrow bed with a sense of determination. She knew she had choices, even if her daughter had failed to see them. The first step was to reclaim her dignity, and she decided to visit the bank to assess her finances. After a warm cup of coffee provided by a kind volunteer at the shelter, she made her way to the bank across town.
As Margaret entered the bank, the familiarity of the place washed over her. She had been visiting this branch for decades, though she had rarely needed to speak to anyone beyond routine transactions. Today, however, she approached an adviser, a young woman with a kind smile.
“Good morning, ma’am. How can I assist you?” the adviser asked.
