The Midnight Snack I Wasn't Supposed To Have

It was during one of my late shifts at the warehouse. The night manager had set strict rules about snacking to avoid distracting from work duties, but something about those unopened snack boxes sitting on a shelf just out of reach... It was almost like they were calling me. I knew better, I really did, but there’s something about being alone in that big space late at night that makes the little rebellions feel justified. I slipped into the break room and, with my heart pounding, grabbed a box of cookies meant for the morning crew. As I bit into one, it was like tasting victory against some invisible force, but also fear, the kind that comes from knowing you’ll have to face the manager tomorrow when they inevitably discover what’s missing. The taste of those stolen sweets was sweet and bitter all at once, so good in the moment, yet heavy with guilt as I realized how easily I slipped into a little-space mindset, craving attention and validation through breaking rules. It felt like a small act, but it left me shaken.