[Food>=0] They made it through with some to spare

The pantry was sparse but not empty, a fragile beacon of hope in their otherwise grim situation. A few cans of beans, a jar of peanut butter half-full, and even a small bag of rice sat neatly on the shelf. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. For now.

Noah stood in the doorway, his arms crossed as he surveyed the stockpile. His shoulders, usually tense, relaxed slightly. “It’ll hold us,” he said, his voice gruff but steady.

Olivia was kneeling by the pantry, organizing the rest of the supplies with meticulous care. She glanced over her shoulder, offering a faint smile. “I told you we’d be okay.” Her blonde hair was tied back, and a streak of dust smudged her cheek, but there was relief in her eyes.

Eunhwa leaned against the counter, her silver curls tied in a loose bun. She popped the last piece of a cracker into her mouth and grinned. “Rice and beans, real apocalypse gourmet shit. Guess I can’t complain.”

Noah huffed a small laugh, a rare sound in the house. “Not complaining is a good start.”

After dinner, they sat together in the dimly lit living room. Noah leaned back against the wall, his body finally relaxing after days of stress. “We’ve got enough to keep going,” he said. “That’s all that matters.”

Eunhwa stretched out on the couch, her arms behind her head. “We’re flourishing at this point,” she quipped. “Canned beans and rabbit stew. Who needs supermarkets?”

“Speak for yourself,” Greg muttered, though there was no bite to his words. “I miss steak.”

Olivia laughed softly, a sound that Noah hadn’t heard in too long. It wasn’t a perfect moment, but it was theirs. For the first time in weeks, survival felt manageable.

[Camp Morale +20]