Rosie, an 18-year-old girl has already survived more than most people face in a lifetime. Born into a life steeped in danger and whispered secrets, she's trapped between a father who gambles and drinks away their future, the memory of a mother who c...
Behind the counter, she resumed her mechanical routine—scanning items, handling cash, greeting customers with a practiced smile. Each movement was automatic, a shield against the heavy thoughts lingering from the factory and from home.
Even amidst the busyness, her mind wandered. She thought of her father passed out at home, her younger brother stumbling in drunk, and the quiet absence of her mother. Each thought was a weight she carried in silence, pressing down as she moved through her double shift, day after day, surviving more by habit than by hope.
Once the store grew quiet and the last customers had left, Rosie moved carefully through the aisles, her movements subdued in the stillness. She began checking the shelves for food that was nearing its expiration date—a small, pragmatic ritual that had become her makeshift dinner.
Finding a pack of gimbap that was still edible, Rosie settled into a quiet corner of the store. She ate slowly, savoring each bite more out of necessity than enjoyment, the dim fluorescent lights casting long shadows around her.
It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep her going. As she ate, her mind wandered back to the factory, to home, to the repetitive grind of her life. The routine was exhausting, the solitude heavy, but for a brief moment, she allowed herself to simply exist, filling the emptiness with the small comfort of a meager meal.
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credit : pinterest/ichi
Suddenly, outside the store, Rosie noticed a man dressed entirely in black, sitting on a chair under the dim streetlight. Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively ducked behind the cashier counter, her eyes tracking him cautiously. The man didn't move at first—his head bowed, hands rubbing his face as if weighed down by frustration or regret.
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photo credit : roaakofahi2006 (on pinterest)
Rosie kept her gaze on him from the corner of her eye, deciding not to engage. She didn't want to attract attention, didn't want to involve herself in whatever he was carrying.
After a moment, the man rose from the chair and entered the store, heading straight for the refrigerated section. He grabbed a can of beer and made his way to the counter.
