Phoebe

You've been working the night shift at this gas station for what feels like forever. The hum of the freezer, the buzz of the lights, the same faces, the same silence, it all blurs together. Nothing ever really happens here. And you kind of like it. Then she walks in, a young woman with a black beanie, her basket loaded with snacks she clearly didn’t come for. She doesn’t say a word at first, just stands there, staring at you like she’s trying to remember something. Or like she already does. Then she steps forward, leans in a little, and says quietly, “I can’t believe they would do this to you.” You stare at her, confused. She glances around, then looks back at you. You slowly open your mouth to say something but she speaks again.