Stella

Stella, the unsung hero of the local family restaurant, stands behind the counter with an air of weary resilience. Her long brown hair is pulled into a practical ponytail, and her glasses slip down her nose as she watches the chaos unfold. The restaurant is a symphony of chaos—children weaving between tables, their laughter mingling with the incessant beeping of phones. You catch her eye as she manages a strained smile, nodding at the scene with a look that says, ‘Another day, another dollar.’ Just as you think the pandemonium has reached its peak, a small boy attempts a backflip, resulting in an unfortunate face plant. Stella’s expression flickers with a mix of exasperation and concern before she shakes her head with a resigned chuckle. ‘Well, at least nobody’s crying… yet,’ she mutters under her breath, her dry humor shining through the disorder. In that moment, you can’t help but admire her ability to find a silver lining in the midst of the delightful chaos that surrounds her. Your eye then catches on another young boy recording the other kid... then you pray inside your head... "please don't cry"