11:56pm
"Jackson!"
"Yes sir?"
"Refill the machines!" My boss orders me.
I nod my head. I walk to the back of the store to get the boxes of carefully delivered soda.
I lift six, ten pound boxes onto a rolling table and proceed to refill the coolers with the carbonated beverages.
It's been two weeks since I started working here. And I have to say...
It's much better than the cafè.
My boss is much nicer to me. In fact, I'm his favorite. He never had one employee handle the night shift all by themselves until he hired me.
I rarely see my coworkers so there's no need to worry about harsh comments or indirect bullying. Peace.
My boss leaves the store at his normal time and I sit on my stool at my register.
I entangle my fingers with the silver necklace around my neck. The gift Mark gave to me on Valentine's day.
This necklace never leaves my body unless I'm taking a shower. I'll never take it off. It's my most prized possession.
Mark...
I wonder if he's sleeping now.
Even though we both work to our fullest, we still manage to hang out when time permits. Every day. We get closer and closer.
And our time together gets shorter and shorter.
Last weekend, the day before Easter, Mark came at night to buy some candy for an Easter egg hunt down by the hospital. He planned the entire event for the sick children to finally have a chance to have fun. To laugh and play like normal children.
It was sweet. Everything Mark does is sweet.
That night Mark came, his presence brightened my night. He invited me to accompany him to his doctor's appointment next week. He said that he wants me to be there.
I'll be there. Even though I'll be exhausted from the night shift, I'll go to support him. I'll be that shoulder for him to lean on when he needs to cry.
I'll go to protect my angel.
Mark has been really sick lately. Just this morning he woke up with a migraine and his nose started to bleed. I held him all day until it was time for me to go to work.
I brewed a pot of ginger tea before I left. Hopefully, he drank it.
And that's how I spend my time at my job.
Thinking about Mark. Occasionally helping the customer that walks into the store late at night. And watching the sun rise above the horizon.
I'm ready for next Saturday.
I'm ready to bear the pain of the truth.
