One desperate morning at the supermarket, I found myself staring at a gallon of milk locked behind an anti-theft device, and everything in my world cracked. As a struggling single mom, I grappled with humiliation, anger, and the urge to provide for my son in a society where even basic necessities come with barriers. That day forced me to confront my own values, my community’s silent suffering, and the question of what kind of country we’re becoming.