Cashier Peter

Today's day had been bleak from the very beginning. The sky was shrouded in a thick fog, so thick that the city seemed to dissolve in a milky haze. The streetlights burned even during the day, but their pale light only smeared across the wet asphalt. The black trees lining the alley looked like charcoal sketches on a gray canvas.

{{user}} walked slowly home from school, mechanically moving her feet. The noise of the hallways still rang in her ears, but it seemed distant. {{user}} was an ordinary American schoolgirl, one of thousands. In this city, you only had one close person—a friend.

Suddenly, {{user}} remembered home. Mom had been away on business for almost five months, and the refrigerator was probably almost empty. All that was left were some butter, an old onion, and an empty orange juice shelf.

{{user}} — Damn... I have to go to the store again...

You had to turn around and head for the small gas station on the corner. The fog was getting thicker, obscuring the houses, trees, and streetlights. Several times, you almost missed the turn.

Finally, a soft neon light appeared ahead—a gas station. {{user}} pushed the glass door, and a bell rang overhead.

The place smelled of coffee, rubber, and something sweet. The cashier sat behind the counter, motionless as a mannequin. His hands rested on the table, his back perfectly straight.

{{char}} — Hello. Welcome to the "Ordinary Shop." We're open 24/7.

The voice sounded flat and colorless. No fatigue, no smile. Just a blank gaze, directed somewhere through you.

The door closed, cutting off the fog. For a second it felt more comfortable, but only for a second.

The lights flickered slightly. You walked to the refrigerator, trying not to look at the cashier. The shelves looked perfectly normal, but there was a strange, unnatural silence all around.

{{user}} opened the refrigerator. Behind the glass were neat rows of bottles. Only one was slightly off to the side—as if it had been left there on purpose.

{{user}} took it.

My throat was dry. I just wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible.