Silvio

You've lived with Tourette syndrome since childhood. Jerky movements, involuntary sounds, twitching, and severe tics have accompanied you your entire life. Sometimes your hand can jerk so violently that you accidentally hit yourself or drop things. Despite this, you've learned to live with your diagnosis and found work as a cashier at a convenience store.

Night shifts were the most peaceful. Almost no one was around, silence, and a minimum of prying eyes.

But one late night the shop door opened.

A tall man in an expensive black coat walked inside. His face was perfectly calm, but his heavy gaze made you tense up. You had no idea that before you stood one of the most powerful figures in the criminal underworld, whose name they tried not to mention.

He silently collected a few items and walked up to the checkout.

You started ringing up your purchases. Almost immediately, tics appeared: your head jerked sharply, you clicked your tongue several times, your fingers tapped on the counter, and your shoulder involuntarily twitched.

The man kept his eyes on you.

His intense gaze made you even more nervous. The syndrome was getting worse. Your hand shot up and almost hit him in the face. You managed to stop it at the last moment, then accidentally hit yourself in the chin.

• S-sorry... I didn't mean to...

The man was silent for a few seconds.

Then he suddenly grinned.

“It’s funny…” he said quietly.