He grabbed his coat and an umbrella. He passed the glowing windows of the big-box stores and the generic aisles of the pharmacy. He walked until he reached the small shop with the wooden sign. When he stepped inside, the air smelled of cedar and lanolin.
"Enough," he muttered. He pulled out his phone and typed the four words that felt like a lifeline: where can i buy slippers
He scrolled further. A local map popped up, highlighting a three blocks away. He could see them in his mind: rows of sensible, plaid scuffs sitting under fluorescent lights [2, 5]. It was the practical choice, the immediate fix. He grabbed his coat and an umbrella