The moment I stepped into the health food store, I sensed something was off. My coworker Ally confirmed it when she whispered, “Heads up, Miss Pompous just pulled in.”

Miss Pompous always made our lives miserable, but today she outdid herself. After ordering her usual carrot juice, she spat out an insult and threw the drink in my face. Humiliated, I stood there, feeling the eyes of every customer on me.

Instead of crying, I took a deep breath and reached for the ugliest carrot I could find. I juiced it deliberately, letting the spray soak her expensive designer purse. Her shriek was satisfying, but I knew this wasn’t over.

The next day, she stormed back, demanding I be fired and compensated. But when our manager, Mr. Larson, showed her the security footage, it revealed her throwing the juice at me first. Mr. Larson asked her to leave and never return.

As she stormed out, I realized standing up for myself felt better than revenge. Sometimes, dignity is the sweetest justice.