My darkest secret

Well over 15 years earlier, while still a secondary-school pupil, he bought a £1 bacon-and-egg sandwich and stole crisps. He prioritized saving for a PlayStation game, concealed the crisps in his winter coat, and bypassed two cafeteria guards. He felt thrilled rather than guilty, considered stealing more, and described recurring sweaty dreams about being caught.

Humour reframes youthful theft, but recurring dreams preserve a trace of fear or embarrassment.