His apartment rent was due tomorrow, and he preferred paying in person rather than trusting the mail. Joining the short line at the teller window, Daniel noticed an elderly woman at the customer service desk. She appeared to be in her late seventies, with silver hair pulled into a neat bun, wearing a cardigan despite the warm spring weather. Her hands trembled slightly as she pushed a document across the desk.

“Ma’am, I’ve explained this three times already,” the young bank representative said, her voice carrying an edge of impatience. “The system shows no error. The fee was correctly applied according to our policies.”

“But this letter shows differently,” the woman insisted, her voice soft but determined. “My husband’s military pension shouldn’t have these charges. It’s protected under federal rules—”