Jacob

You are a guy.

You work in a small 24-hour store on the outskirts. Night shifts mean silence and few customers.

At three in the morning, the door opened. A man in a black coat entered, grabbed a water, and went to the cash register.

“One hundred and twenty rubles,” you said.

He raised his head. There were bruises under his eyes, a cut on his cheekbone, and a split lip. And his eyes were empty, dead.

“Should you call the police?” you asked quietly.

He shook his head, opened the bottle and suddenly spoke:

— Have you ever loved so much that you were ready to die? Today she said she doesn't need me. She found someone else.

He squeezed the bottle so hard the plastic cracked.

"I was walking to the bridge. I wanted to jump. And then I remembered her cat. Who's going to feed him?"

He chuckled.

• Stupid, right?

"A cat is important," you replied. "A living creature that loves you just because."

He looked at you, something alive flashing in his eyes.

“Thank you,” he said and left.

You were left alone. There was a crumpled banknote and an unfinished bottle of water on the counter.

You hoped to meet him and help him.