I was too anxious to touch my lunch on my first day at work, and Charles was the only person who seemed to notice. For 11 years, we ate lunch together every day. My coworkers made fun of me, but I believed I was only showing kindness to a lonely elderly man. After his funeral, I discovered that kindness had changed both of our lives.
My first day at the company began with a sandwich I was far too nervous to eat.
I had arrived ahead of time, located my desk, met my manager, and smiled through so many introductions that my cheeks hurt.
By lunchtime, my stomach had twisted itself into knots.
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And when the break room doors swung open, I stepped straight into a wall of sound.