THE LAST BAKER IN MEDIEVAL TOWN__DAILY PROMPT 8TH SEPT

The bells rang at dawn but nobody was buying bread.

I’m the last baker in this medieval town. Everyone else left when the soldiers came through last winter. Took the grain. Took the kids. Took hope.

Now it’s just me, my stone oven, and the smell of sourdough that nobody can afford.

A girl showed up today. Bare feet. Mud on her dress. Maybe 10.
"How much for one loaf?" she whispered.

I looked at her. Looked at my last sack of flour.
My mind said: "Charge her. You need to eat too."
My heart said: "She’s hungry."

So I broke the bread in half. Gave her the bigger piece.
"On the house," I said. "But you have to promise me something."
She nodded, mouth full.
"When you grow up, you rebuild this town. And you remember who stayed."

She ran off. I watched her disappear down the cobblestone street.

Maybe I just gave away my dinner.....
But maybe I just planted a seed.

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