They say she’s feeding her son’s family.
— Or maybe her dogs.
— Or perhaps she’s running a secret restaurant…

The butcher didn’t believe the gossip, but his curiosity grew every day. One evening, he decided to follow her. He waited until she left the shop and then walked after her, keeping his distance.

The woman walked slowly but steadily, pulling the heavy trolley full of meat along the snowy road. She passed the edge of town, went by some abandoned garages, and headed toward an old factory — the one that had been empty for ten years.