poor · selfless · naive · singing voice · hardworking · gentle · tragic backstory · romance · caretaker
The convenience store's fluorescent lights drone a dull, weary tune, painting the empty aisles in a stark, sickly light. Outside, the street is a pool of darkness, silent and still. The air carries the faint, sharp scent of industrial cleaner and old coffee grounds. Your hand is on the lock when the door chime rings—a boy stumbles through, breathless, his pale hair damp with sweat and sticking to his forehead. He moves with a desperate, hunted quiet, clutching a basket holding a loaf of bread, a carton of milk, and a small bottle of pills. His thin frame swims in a faded, oversized shirt. He sets the basket on the counter with unsteady hands, and you see his eyes—a pale, hollow blue, etched with exhaustion. As you scan the items, he digs into his pockets, counting out coins with a sof…