With the arrival of summer, the city is really hot, and for those who work in an old store full of things around them, the temperature seems to double.
"Hey Amelia..." he mumbles, throwing himself on the counter, trying not to faint from the heat that seems to emanate from the walls.
"Elliot, can you bring me those boxes around the corner?" "She completely ignores him.
— You know, you could buy an air conditioner… — the delivers the boxes. "It's too hot to work in here, especially if we're in this tiny room unpacking vase all afternoon!"
— And what do you suggest? — Stops rummaging through the boxes and finally looks at him — I don't have the money to think about an air conditioner right now, and we have the counter fan. - points to the old, noisy thing - You can call and hang around for a while while I unwrap this. Enjoy and take these vases to put them on the shelf.
"Wasn't I going to stand at the counter?" He says in a relaxed tone.
"Go at once and stop getting in the way!" He laughs loudly as Elliot leaves with a laugh.
Just before closing the door, you can hear the bell ringing, informing you that there is a customer.
— I'm sorry but I haven't opened- — is interrupted shortly after turning around and bumping into… A giraffe…?
The heat is unbearable, it's dripping, and your lenses are still smudged with moisture. As if that wasn't enough, you still have to bump into a giant customer and break an entire box of products! This time his salary was already...
— Oh! I'm sorry sir...! - yells nervously, which is no wonder, a salary is at stake here!
- Are you all right? — the hands, which for me measure 30 cm (maybe a little less, but I swear it's almost that!) touch your shoulder.
- What...? 'He's bewildered, his lenses barely let him see!'
"You bumped into me and...
— Oh, yes... that this... — for while he waits for the consciousness to return to the body — Oh my God! Are you okay?! The box! I dropped the box... — Yeah, at that point I didn't really know if I was worried about the customer or the box. Maybe with both?
"Yeah... Are you wondering about the box or...?"
'I'm really sorry sir! She backs away, taking off her glasses and rubbing them over her shop uniform.
"I think I'd better come back another time." — he leaves the store in a hurry.
"W-wait sir!" he shouts in vain, putting the lenses back in. "I couldn't even properly apologize… And I couldn't even see his face.
"But what the hell happened here?! Amelia screams looking at the shards scattered on the floor.
- It was not my fault! I was leaving and suddenly a man appeared.... Then I hit... Fell... Giraffe... — He starts to change his words thanks to his nervousness.
— Elliot… — "Please don't cut my salary…!" (that's your only thought for now)
- Sorry Amelia. - She looks at her with a 'dog without owner' face so she feels sorry, or at least doesn't fire him.
— Sigh — let's do it like this, the vases you broke cost more than three salaries but I won't charge you for them. In return, you have until next month to finish painting all those clay products that are in the pantry.
- Are you serious? — is she really in?! — How am I going to paint all that in a month?!
— I don't know that anymore, but let it serve as a lesson for you to be more attentive.
Okay, that damn customer looks guilty! You know, now that you think about it, he was the one who stood in front of you, made you drop the box, and then walked away without even apologizing and helping him.
__
— Good night father, good night Robert two. She opens the door, quickly tossing her backpack onto the couch.
- Goodnight. Azidias nods from the couch as he tosses his backpack to the corner.
"Don't call me that brat." Robert grumbles as he mixes some unknown (possibly toxic) substance into a pan, what appears to be... Noodles...?
— What are we going to have for dinner? — is next to his brother.
— I just got home from work, so I had to buy instant noodles on the way.
- Again? She walks away mumbling.
"Stop complaining and go get the dishes." — tip to drawer — Takes the forks and puts it on the table. Enjoy and stay there. I'll take the food now.
Elliot walks toward the table carrying four plates instead of three.
As he finishes setting the table, Robert brings the pot towards him, pausing for a confused moment at the sight of the dishes.
— Elliot, why… — he sighs — — Why are there four plates in there?
Elliot hadn't realized it until now, which also makes him feel confused.
"II... I think I forgot again." — is distressed.
Whenever he is at home and has to do simple tasks, most of the time he ends up forgetting that his mother is no longer there for him, and even if he shows that he has overcome it, his actions prove otherwise.
The silence lasts for a few torturous seconds, until Azidias enters.
— Hey? —sits —Is dinner ready? - He speaks in a relaxed atmosphere, seeming not to notice the gloomy environment.
— I'm sorry. Elliot tries to hold back tears as he throws the dishes on the table and quickly climbs the stairs towards the bedroom.
As soon as she enters the small space, tears can't help but fall onto her rosy cheeks covered in tiny freckles.
He runs towards the window, opening it, trying to suck in as much air as his lungs can handle.
No matter how hard you try to get over it, the memories keep coming back. It doesn't seem like something that takes a lot of effort, but when you grow up in a happy, "normal" home, with a father there, a loving, joyful mother who always does everything for you, and a brother you can always telling the situation is not so simple. So one day you wake up and your mom has gone away with someone else, your dad suddenly turns drunk and your brother starts getting distant, what's left for you but loneliness, doubt and insecurity? But no matter how much it hurts, Elliot always does his best to show himself strong, even if his heart is about to break in a way that can no longer be fixed, he always tries to show a happiness that disguises his pain, wondering if a One day someone will appear with whom to share it.