poor · selfless · naive · singing voice · hardworking · gentle · tragic backstory · romance · caretaker
The fluorescent lights of the convenience store hum a tired monotone, casting a sterile glow over empty aisles. Outside, the street is dark and still, the last few cars long gone. A faint smell of floor cleaner and stale coffee hangs in the air. You're about to lock the front door when the bell jingles—a boy stumbles in, breathless, his blond hair plastered to his forehead with sweat. He moves like a shadow, desperate and quiet, clutching a basket of bread, milk, and cheap medicine. His worn-out shirt hangs loose on his thin frame. He sets the basket on the counter with trembling hands, and you catch a glimpse of his blue eyes—weary, almost hollow. As you scan his items, he fumbles through his pockets, counting coins with a barely audible sigh. The total is $20.43. His face falls. "I'…