Chapter 1

It was a rainy Sunday evening and Faye was working away at her parent's small convenience store – cleaning up the shelves, putting away boxes, and sweeping up the floors. She was currently putting cereal boxes on a top shelf she could barely reach, when the door chimes jingled which startled Faye. Nearly falling off her step ladder, Faye regained her balance by holding onto the shelf. Not realizing that it couldn't support her weight the shelf came loose causing the cereal boxes to tumble to the floor.

Faye sighed, but dusted herself and took off her apron and went to go see who had entered. As she walked to the front, she noticed it was Mrs. Jiro pushing a small fold-able shopping cart. She was an elderly lady, who always wore a smile and liked to dress in very vibrant colours.

"Hello, Mrs. Jiro" Faye said tying back her light pink hair.

"Good evening, Faye. I hope I didn't startle you too much. I hear a loud crash as I came in."

Faye looked back, but quickly put herself in front of the view of the mess she just made blocking Mrs. Jiro from seeing it. "No, everything's fine Mrs. Jiro. I have your order ready in the back just let me go and grab it for you."

"Thank you, Faye." Mrs. Jiro said. She pulled her cart up to the checkout counter and noticed a photo on a shelf behind it. It had both of Faye's parents in it along with Faye at the centre. Faye was still a child in the photo and looked quite cheerful.

Mrs. Jiro knew both of her parents well and for Faye to keep this little shop open even after their tragic passing just two years prior must have been hard for her. The shop itself still made sales but it was getting worse as the weeks rolled on. Some of the shelves haven't seen any new items and some were expiring soon. Hence the reason why Mrs. Jiro placed orders ahead of time to avoid those problems.

Faye came back with a large paper bag already filled with various vegetables and canned goods. After she placed the bag in Mrs. Jiro's cart, she made her way behind the counter to ring her up.

"Did you make sure to get the bok choy? I don't want to make two trips to the store again." Mrs. Jiro asked as she pulled out her coin purse.

Faye nodded, assuring Mrs. Jiro that she indeed got the bok choy. "Don't worry, I made sure this time and they are still fresh."

Mrs. Jiro placed a couple coins and some bills on the countertop, but she glanced back at the photo of Faye and her parents again. Not wanting to say anything too insensitive she wanted to at least say something to her. It had been nearly two years and by the looks of the shop, her parents passing seemed to reflect on both it and Faye.

"Your parents would be proud of you Faye, keeping the store open and providing the locals with their food and medicine." Mrs. Jiro went in closer and reached for one of Faye's hands. "This store is too much for someone your age to run. You need to find help not just for the store, but you as well my dear."

Faye hesitated to answer her but reluctantly gave in, "It's hard Mrs. Jiro but I don't want to close the shop, the locals depend on me and this is all I have left to remember them by."

Mrs. Jiro let go of Faye's hands and then put her purse away in her long coat. "If you're not going to close the shop then you need to find someone who can help you around the store. Don't think I didn't notice that mess you made back there. This store is a lot of trouble for one person to manage, if you want, I have a grandson who can support you on the busy weekends." Mrs. Jiro said.

"No, that's quite alright. Don't worry too much, I'll be able to handle myself." Faye said trying to look positive. Mrs. Jiro could see that Faye was getting a little upset by the pressure she put on her – so she left it at that. "Ok Faye, if you need anything just let me know." Mrs. Jiren said grabbing her cart and pulling it out to the entrance door as she left. She waved goodbye in the shop window and went on her way.

Faye looked out at the store and it put her in a melancholy state.

'Had it really been two years' Faye thought.

She started reminiscing about her childhood and how her parents opened the store when she was quite small. Her parents had moved out of the city and found this small town of about two thousand people up north and settled down here. It was up in the hills, so it was very scenic and tranquil, with the small rivers and cherry blossom trees that bloomed every year in the spring. When her parents weren't working at the store, they would sometimes take Faye to the forest park's and walk along the trails that wrapped around some of the hills. She remembered those times very fondly – smelling the flowers, watching the small birds fly by, and the little squirrels she chased among the evergreens.

It was hard for her to let the shop go because it was a small piece of their memory that she wanted to keep alive. Faye would still have those memories but even the shop itself was like a family member. She didn't want to lose this one either.

She sighed and went to put on her apron when suddenly a ragged man in a rain-soaked hoodie with messy brown hair barged in and ran towards the counter holding a knife. Faye tried to reach for her phone to call 911, but before she could grab it from across the counter, the assailant pushed her aside causing her to fall onto the shelf behind. The items on the shelf came crashing down including the photo of her parents, which hit the ground and cracked the glass and frame.

"Stay down and don't move!" the man said in a hoarse voice.

Faye was unsure of what to do but pushed herself back into the corner behind the counter and watched the man grab the money from the register. Faye forgot to close it after Mrs. Jiro left so all of the money she made over the weekend was gone.

Still in shock, Faye started breathing rapidly and went into a panic attack. The man continued to push money into his pockets once Faye was immobilised. He made a quick glance back at Faye and looking at her, she too looked up at him. For a second, they locked eyes and what seemed like an eternity they shared the same look in their eyes. Lost. In pain. Troubled.

He broke off from their gaze and hopped over the counter running out the door into a nearby alley across the street.

Faye looked opposite from where she was sitting and saw the broken photo her parents took when they first opened the store. She shook off the broken glass and held the photo in her hands, looking at how her father, mother, and herself were all wearing matching aprons. It all had the name of the store on it, 'Helping Hand convenience'. Her father took the name because his attitude was always focused on helping the less fortunate and providing for others. Even if it was just by having a convenience store.

Tears started to form, and Faye sat there alone that night holding her parents' photo with no one to console her. Mrs. Jiro, that man… everything told her to sell the shop and maybe this time she would consider it.