Azzurra The baby’s wail pulled my attention like a fishhook. It was constant, sharp, and so goddessdamned insistent. I glanced up from the register, eyeing the little girl as she squirmed in her mother’s arms. She was red-faced, her tiny fists flailing in frustration while the mother, barely sparing her a glance, bounced her absentmindedly. I wondered how it felt to have someone depend on you like that, and I didn’t envy it.The clock on the wall behind them caught my eye—9:58 p.m. Relief coursed through me. Almost there. Just two more minutes and I’d be free from this badly lit hellhole for the night.I handed the woman her bags with a tight smile, her child’s cries still ringing in my ears. As she shuffled away, I slipped off my name badge and tossed it onto the counter. My shift was over. Finally.I made my way to the back room, the hum of the blinking lights overhead grating against my nerves. The locker door creaked as I opened it, grabbing my scuffed leather bag. Slinging it
Last Updated : 2025-02-17 Read more