When I Snuck a Cookie from the Supply Room

So here's this thing. I work nights at a big industrial bakery and yeah, there's cookies everywhere, but like, I'm not supposed to take any home or eat them while working because of all the health codes and rules. But you know how it is? Sometimes your hands just do things before your brain catches up. Last night, my shift was winding down and I was so tired from a long day. There were these chocolate chip cookies sitting out in the supply room, big trays filled to the brim with them. They smelled amazing too. Now usually, I wouldn't even think about it. But last night... I don't know what came over me. I grabbed two and stuffed them into my shirt pocket as quick as could be before heading home. Just thinking back on it now makes me feel sick to my stomach though, like that little girl who knows she's done something wrong but can’t bring herself to tell anyone. I'm not sure if the fear is bigger than the guilt, or vice versa. This morning at work? Same as any other day, everyone acting normal and nothing said about missing cookies, which made me feel even worse actually. But here’s the thing: my Daddy used to have this rule growing up where you always had to tell when you did something wrong. I guess that part of my brain thought it was just how things were supposed to be. Maybe deep down I still think that. I know now it's not about stealing, it's about breaking the rules and betraying trust, whether or not there’s actual harm done. So even though nothing bad happened because of the cookies, I feel this ache in my chest like a part of me lost its innocence all over again. Anyway, confession is good for the soul they say, so here it is, out in the open where it can't eat away at me anymore.