The Golden Ticket

The Golden Ticket
​An elderly man sat on a park bench, holding a small, weathered violin. His clothes were worn, and his case was empty. Nearby, a young, flashy influencer was filming a video, bragging about his “expensive lifestyle” and ignoring the world around him.
​A young girl, no older than seven, stopped in front of the old man. She dug deep into her pocket and pulled out a single, crumpled chocolate wrapper—the kind that sometimes comes with a “Golden Ticket” prize in local contests.