AARON I stepped up to the convenience store doors and they slid open without a sound. I looked around and saw a line of people at the back, waiting for the restroom. There were two doors with a restroom sign. When one opened, I saw a single toilet inside. I counted the people waiting and did the math. It would be better if Elena did not have to go too badly, because she would wait a long time. I looked at the aisles next. They were mostly empty. What was left had little value, like mugs and trinkets. I never thought convenience store donuts would be important, but now I was staring at an empty rack. I turned to look for an employee. Noise came from the restaurant attached to the store, so I walked that way.Around the bend, I saw a man in a uniform putting cutlery on a big counter. The counter was for both paying and eating. His hair was shaggy and red, needing a comb. Freckles on his cheeks made him look very young. Behind him, a clear glass wall protected an automatic chef unit. Its arms hung down, and cooking tools were stuck to the wall with magnets. I stepped to the counter and the man nodded at me. “How can I help you?” he said. A quick cough escaped him and he covered his mouth with his hand. “Sorry about that. It’s dusty back here.” I sat on a stool and smiled as nicely as I could. It felt a little forced. “No problem. Who do I thank for the free charge?” The man smiled back. His teeth were colored in a rainbow pattern. It made me think of the pop singer Chantel. I always thought it looked silly, but it was popular now. “I turned on the system’s disaster mode. It should help more people before the main battery dies.”“Just glad we got here before it went dry.” I motioned with my chin past him toward the chef unit. “Any chance that thing is working?” He shook his head. That little bit of hope inside me faded. “No, sorry. It lost its connection to the server. It’s a cheaper model with no storage here.” “Damn. I was hoping to get my boy and wife a real meal.” The employee pointed out the opposite window to a Mobile Hauler outside. “I gave those people full access to the storage unit. They agreed to share what they cooked.” I looked where he pointed. “You think they will keep their promise now that they have the food?” The man smiled and rested on his elbows. “I have learned a lot. One thing I see again and again is that people are downright decent if you give them a chance. So far, everyone here has proven me right. If there was ever a time for people to turn on each other, this would be it. But when we are tested the most, we usually try to help and keep society together. Tonight I have seen hundreds of people, maybe a thousand or more. I have only seen one act of violence. So yes, I think they will keep their promise.” “Because you believe in humanity?” “That, and I already sent a few dozen people before you over there,” he said with a wide, colorful smile. I laughed. “Sorry. I guess I walked into that one. By the way, I’m Aaron,” I said, holding out my hand. The clerk smiled and took it. “I’m Gary. No worries. You’re young and worried about your family’s safety. I completely understand wanting to jump to conclusions.” “I’m only a little older than you must be.” The other man barked out a laugh. “Then you must be pretty fucking old.” I leaned in without thinking, my eyes narrowing as I looked at his face. “You got the treatment?” “Yup.” “But… it’s only supposed to put you into your biological twenties and—” “And I look like I just finished puberty.” He laughed again. “I always had a baby face, even as an old guy. I looked this way until I was about thirty. If not for the apocalypse, I might be stuck like this forever.” My stomach tensed. The conversation had let me forget about our likely deaths for a moment. The reality crashed back. I stood up. “Well, thanks for keeping this place open. If you could thank your boss for me, I’d appreciate it.” The man shook his head. “Don’t worry about thanking that prick.” I tilted my head slightly. “Why not?” Gary huffed. “The moment everything went wrong, that bastard made people pay him with supplies for a recharge. He wouldn’t give away anything in the store.” I looked back at the empty shelves, then at Gary. “Then what changed his mind?” The clerk laughed. “Me bashing it out of his skull with a tire iron probably did the trick. Got a couple of guys to help me throw him in the dumpster out back.” His amusement was clear at his play on words.