Chapter 3.

U-mart was located at the north side of town, where Melissa lived. It was a five minute walk from her apartment, so working there was very convenient for her. The mart was relatively small, with just a few merchandise on sale. The mart was quite popular in the area, so it was buzzing with customers during the day and night. This night was quite different however. The store only had a few customers today, walking up the asile, viewing products, not entirely sure on what to buy.

Melissa was Manning the counter as she always did during every night shift. Her curly hair was tied up in a tight pony tail today and she let a few stands fall just above her eyes. She was clad in a red t-shirt with a black collar and tight blue jeans. Her name was written in small letters on a badge and was stuck to the left side of her shirt. Even though it was a small mart, the owner tried to make things as professional as possible, hence the name tag.

Melissa peered at her phone for the time and she sighed nervously. It was a little after 8pm and it was almost time for the blind date her friend, Tory had set her up for. Melissa still couldn’t believe she was doing this. Her life had been a never ending cycle of working, going home, working, and the cycle went on and on. She had never tried to fit dating into it, heck she couldn’t even do that. Melissa worked three jobs. One during the day, another during the afternoon and at night.

Since she couldn’t graduate from college due to how much money it costs, So she couldn’t get a decent white collar job. Melissa had to drop out and work part-time. It was an exhausting life, but Melissa had gotten used to it. Well, she didn’t have a choice but you get used it.

A woman appeared from the corner of the third aisle and walked over to the counter. She was an attractive woman, who looked like she’d been in her fifties. Her plump lips were curled in a tight warm smile as she dropped the items she had picked out on the counter.

“I'll take these please.” She said.

Melissa forced a smile and nodded. When you do this job for more than a year, you learn to smile even if it contradicted your real feelings. She scanned each item one after the other and threw them in a bag.

“That will be 21 dollars ma’am.”

The woman nodded and scavenged through her small brown purse. She pulled out a couple of notes and Melissa counted them before throwing it into the cash register.

“Dear, are you okay?”

Melissa looked up at the woman and blinked. Was she talking to her? Of course she was, the woman was looking at Melissa, her eyes full of concern and warmth.

“Excuse me?” Melissa retorted, not meaning for her question to come out as rude as it sounded.

“Oh, it’s just that I always see you working this late. That can’t be good for a young woman like you, now can it?”

Melissa smiled and handed her the bag.

“I appreciate your concern ma’am, but I’m fine.” Melissa reassured her.

The woman looked at Melissa for a long moment, her face dripped with wistfulness and a slight hint of dismal.

“If you say so dear. Have a good night.”

Melissa nodded and watched her waddle away from the counter. It was faint, but Melissa could’ve sworn she heard the woman mutter “poor child” under her breath. Melissa shrugged it off. She couldn’t be bothered about a woman she barely even knew.

Melissa checked the time again. Thirty more minutes till 9pm. She didn’t have much time left. She peered at all the aisle, to see if the store had any more customers left and she sighted a tall lanky man gazing at the stack of Cameras. He didn’t seem to be interested in it and it didn’t seem like he was buying anything.

After a few minutes the man walked up to the counter, a beer in hand. He placed the beer on the counter and looked around the store, a bit cautiously, like he was checking to see if there was anyone around. Was he running away from someone? Looking at him up close, he looked like a homeless person you’d see lying down on the streets. His shaggy hair had streaks of white strands, hinting that he wasn’t young anymore.

His presence made Melissa feel very uncomfortable and all she wanted to do was get him to leave immediately.

“Give me a cigarette.”

“What brand?” Melissa asked without making eye contact with him.

“Uh...anyone’s fine.”

She spun around and quickly grabbed a cigarette pack from the shelf behind her. Placing the pack with the beer, Melissa scanned them as quickly as she could.

“Hey, uh are you from around here?”

Oh oh. It was the usual question she got from guys each night she worked the counter.

“That would be five dollars sir.” Melissa said without responding to his question.

He frowned a bit and looked at Melissa sternly.

“You didn’t answer my question lassie.”

“Sir, That would be five dollars.” Melissa tried as much as much not to let her discomfort show.

The lanky man grabbed Melissa’s wrists firmly and sneered at her.

“I'm talkin’ to you filly, answer my question.” He ordered as he moved his face closer to hers.

A wave of nausea hit Melissa as the foul stench oozing from the man’s mouth hit her nose. She tried to wriggle her hand free from his grasp, but that only made him tighten his grip further.

“Sir, let go of my hand.” Melissa was still trying to keep her cool, but she was frightened.

The man pulled her wrist jerking her forward, closer to him.

“Why are you actin’ so high and mighty? I’m just Tryna get to know you.” His tone was getting lower.

“I’m not interested sir. Please pay up and leave.” Melissa managed to utter through her trembling lips.

Her words had enraged him further, she could see it from the unwelcoming scowl on his face.