Act I “The heat got to me.” Seventy-three-year-old Walter Briggs shifted the STOP/SLOW sign from one hand to the other beneath the punishing afternoon sun. The movement…

Act I “The crate was too heavy.” Seventy-one-year-old Samuel Hart bent toward the apples rolling across the dirt path. Several had slipped from the overloaded wooden crate…

Act I The fish slipped from Elena Ruiz’s numb hands and struck the wet factory floor. She bent immediately, reaching to remove it before the conveyor carried…

Act I “Just a few seconds, please.” Seventy-five-year-old Walter Briggs leaned against his shovel as icy wind swept along the city street. His breath came hard beneath…

Act I The metal bucket slipped before Ruth Dalton could catch it. Milk spread across the wet barn floor, mixing with rainwater tracked in through the open…

Act I “I can fix it right now.” Harold Bennett peeled at the shipping label with thin, trembling gloves. Sweat had run into his eyes beneath the…

Act I “I’m sorry. This was preordered.” Nora Hayes kept one hand beside the package on the cold glass counter. It was wrapped in cream deli paper…

Act I “I’m sorry. That mug is already sold.” Claire Dawson kept one hand near the ceramic cup on the counter. It was the last of its…

Act I “I’m sorry. That bag is already reserved.” Rachel Morgan kept one hand beside the final package of coffee on the wooden counter. The matte-black bag…