There was…a weird air in the city. I could not explain what it was, but something seemed to have changed and that change made me restless.
I stood in front of my shop for a long moment before unlocking the door.
The street outside was ordinary enough-children walking to school, a delivery bike passing by, a scolding mother helping a toddler into a stroller. The world was as quiet as it could be.
And yet, the world felt wrong.
The bell rang softly as I stepped inside. The shop was the same as ever, but the very air in here felt different.
The kids were still sleeping, too tired from their trip to be awake this early. And I made the decision not to wake them up. They needed all the help they could if they wanted to grow up.
For now, it was time for me to open the shop.
