Alex Young leaned against the counter, his fingers brushing absently over its edge. He caught a faint glimpse of himself in the reflection of the snack display. That was him, alright—name tag crooked on his chest, a tired expression in his eyes. He adjusted the tag, tracing the letters like they belonged to someone else.

At nineteen, Alex felt older than he was, not in the wise, accomplished way, but in the worn-out way. Like he'd been carrying something heavy for so long, he'd forgotten what it was like to stand upright.

The store hummed quietly, the fluorescent lights flickering slightly, and for a moment, Alex wondered if they were as tired as he felt. Rows of snacks, their cheerful packaging promising joy in every bite, lined the shelves. The bright colors seemed almost mocking, starkly contrasting the gray that had settled over his life.

He glanced at the clock on his phone. Midnight wasn't far off, and a few more hours would drag by before his shift ended. It had been a long day, starting with lectures that left him more confused than enlightened.

Business Management had sounded like a solid choice back when he enrolled, the kind of degree that might open doors and provide a future. Instead, it felt like walking down a dimly lit hallway, not knowing where it would lead—or if it even went anywhere.

The sound of approaching footsteps pulled him from his thoughts. He looked up to see Nicole, his manager, stepping into view. She had an air that demanded attention—not in a loud way, but in the kind of way that made you straighten up a little when she entered the room.

"Alex, you on break?" she asked, her voice light but firm, the kind of tone that managed to be both friendly and no-nonsense.

Alex straightened, slipping his phone into his pocket. "Yeah, just for a minute," he replied, trying to sound casual.

Nicole leaned against the counter beside him, her arms crossed, her sharp eyes softening slightly as she looked at him. "How's school going?" she asked, her tone genuinely curious. "Business Management, right?"

Alex hesitated, letting out a breath before answering. "Yeah… Business Management." He paused, then added with a wry smile, "It's… going."

Nicole tilted her head, her gaze thoughtful. "Just 'going,' huh? Doesn't sound like you're enjoying it much."

Alex shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "I thought it'd be more… useful, you know? Like, practical stuff I could actually use. But half the time, it just feels like I'm memorizing words that don't mean anything."

Nicole nodded, her expression unreadable but attentive. She was good at that—listening without interrupting, letting him get the words out even when they felt clumsy.

"And the other half?" she asked, her tone light enough to invite honesty.

Alex sighed, glancing away. "The other half is me wondering if I picked the wrong path. Like… I'm just going through the motions, hoping it'll make sense eventually."

Nicole was quiet for a moment, then said, "You know, that's not unusual." Her voice had a calmness to it, like someone who'd walked a few more miles down the road and seen the same doubts. "College is messy. Nobody tells you that, but it's true. You're figuring out who you are and what you want—it's a lot. And it's okay to feel a little lost."

Her words weren't the sweeping, motivational kind that promised the world would magically align. They were grounded, simple, and somehow comforting.

Alex met her gaze, surprised at how much lighter he felt. "Thanks," he said quietly. "I don't really talk about this stuff much. Most people just say, 'It'll work out,' or 'Stop overthinking it.'"

Nicole smiled faintly. "Well, I'm not most people. And besides, they're not working this shift with you, are they?"

That earned a small laugh from Alex, and for a moment, the weight on his chest didn't feel quite so heavy.

Nicole's expression grew more thoughtful as she leaned back slightly. "You know," she began, her voice softer now, "it's funny how life works. Sometimes, when you feel like you're stuck in the same loop, something unexpected happens. And suddenly, everything changes."

Alex raised an eyebrow, half-skeptical but curious. "Like what?"

Nicole shrugged, her smile turning a little mysterious. "Could be anything. Maybe someone new crosses your path, or you stumble onto something that makes you see things differently. Sometimes, it's a big opportunity; sometimes, it's something small that sets off a chain reaction. You'd be surprised how quickly things can shift."

Her words hung in the air, and Alex found himself turning them over in his mind. He wanted to believe her, but the reality of his life—lectures, late shifts, and a string of days that felt like photocopies of each other—made it hard.

"Guess I'll have to wait and see," he said lightly, though the words carried a faint hope he wasn't ready to admit.

Nicole chuckled, nudging him gently. "You'll see," she said with a confidence that made him want to believe her.

Nicole leaned forward, her gaze steady as her eyes locked with his. "Don't count yourself out, Alex," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Life might feel like a cycle of classes and shifts, but maybe there's something out there waiting for you. Something to remind you that it can all be… better. Maybe even fun again."

Her words lingered in the air, more impactful than Alex expected. There was something in the way she said it, the certainty in her tone, that made him pause. For the first time in weeks, he considered the possibility that she might be right. That maybe, somewhere out there, things could change. That this wasn't all there was.

A small, genuine smile tugged at his lips. "Thanks, Nicole," he said softly. "I'll… keep that in mind."

She reached out, giving his shoulder a friendly pat, her expression warm and encouraging. "Good. Just don't let the grind convince you that this is it. Life has a way of surprising you when you least expect it."

Then, as if to emphasize her point, she leaned back with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Actually," she said, a small grin spreading across her face, "your first surprise tonight is that I talked to the owner about closing the store early."

Alex blinked, her words catching him off guard. "Wait, what? Are you serious?"

"Completely," Nicole replied, crossing her arms with a satisfied air. "I convinced him that with all these robberies happening lately, it's not worth taking unnecessary risks. So, just to be safe, we're closing early this week."

Relief washed over Alex, the idea of an early night lifting a weight he hadn't even realized he'd been carrying. "Robberies?" he asked, his tone more serious now. "I've heard a few rumors, but I didn't think it was that bad."

Nicole's expression shifted, her playful demeanor giving way to something more somber. "Yeah," she said, her voice quieter. "A couple of stores in the area have been hit. It's nothing new in this part of town, but it's been happening more often lately. I figured it was best not to take any chances."

Alex nodded, a newfound respect for her settling in. She wasn't just looking out for herself—she'd taken steps to protect them both. He appreciated that more than he could say.

"Well," he said with a small grin, "guess I'd better start closing up, then."

Nicole smiled, stepping aside as Alex made his way to the front door. He reached for the "Open" sign, ready to flip it to "Closed," when the soft chime of the bell echoed through the store. He turned, and his stomach dropped.

Two men strode in, their faces hidden behind black balaclavas. Their movements were deliberate and calculated, and there was a sharpness in their eyes that sent a chill through the air. Alex's pulse quickened as he instinctively took a step back.

This wasn't just a late-night customer. This was trouble.

One of the men stepped forward, his voice low and gruff. "Cash. Now. No one gets hurt if you just cooperate."

Nicole froze behind the counter, her face pale but composed. She glanced at Alex, a silent signal passing between them to stay calm. Her fingers moved slowly, opening the register as her hands trembled ever so slightly.

Alex tried to steady his breathing, his mind racing. 'This is bad,' he thought. 'Really bad.'

The first man snatched the cash Nicole handed over, shoving it into a small bag with practiced efficiency. The second man lingered behind him, his eyes scanning the store before landing on Nicole. A slow, unsettling grin spread across his face.

"Well, well," he drawled, his tone oozing with crude intent. "Didn't expect to find a little bonus tonight." His eyes trailed over her, lingering far too long. "Got yourself a body worth admiring, don't you, sweetheart?"

Nicole stiffened, her face draining of color. She didn't respond, but her eyes darted to Alex, a flicker of silent desperation crossing her expression.

The man took a step closer, his fingers twitching as if he was ready to reach for her. "C'mon, darling," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Don't be shy."

Something in Alex snapped. His blood boiled, his vision narrowing as he stepped forward without thinking. "Keep your hands to yourself," he said sharply, his voice cutting through the tense air.

The man turned, his amusement replaced with irritation. "Oh, you've got something to say, kid?" he sneered, taking a step closer. "Think you're gonna be a hero?"

Alex's heart raced, but he stood his ground. "Take the money and go," he said, his voice firm. "Now."

The man's sneer deepened, his posture growing more aggressive. "You've got some nerve, kid," he growled, lifting his hand to reveal a knife. He waved it lazily in Alex's direction, a clear threat. "You wanna push your luck?"

Alex swallowed hard, his pulse pounding in his ears, but he didn't move. He could feel Nicole's eyes on him, her silent plea for him to back down. But he couldn't—not with the way the man had looked at her.

The man stepped closer, his knife flashing in the fluorescent light. He moved to jab the blade toward Alex—not to strike, just to scare him—but his grip slipped. The knife caught Alex's stomach, tearing through fabric and skin in one careless motion.

Alex gasped, staggering back as pain flared through him. He pressed his hands to his abdomen, warm blood seeping between his fingers as his vision swam.

"Damn it," the man muttered, his face pale as he realized what he'd done. "We weren't supposed to hurt anyone!"

His partner grabbed his arm, yanking him toward the door. "We need to go! Now!"

The two men bolted, their footsteps fading into the night. The door chimed once more as it swung shut behind them, leaving an eerie silence in their wake.

Nicole rushed to Alex's side, her hands trembling as she pressed them against his wound. "Stay with me, Alex," she said urgently, her voice breaking. "I'll call for help. Just hold on."

Alex tried to focus on her voice, her presence the only thing tethering him to consciousness as the edges of his vision darkened. The world around him grew blurry, fading into nothing as the pain pulled him under.