Chapter IX
May 22, 2004
William was promoted to assistant manager earlier that year. He hadn’t asked for
it, but Mr. Stanza said he was the longest-serving and only reliable employee.
Emily had come back every summer for the past four years. She worked at the gas
station with William for the first three, but last year she interned at the
courthouse across town. She also stayed with him for most of her Christmas breaks
except the past one.
She usually showed up at his door or would come to the gas station. He even bought
her a gift last Christmas. It sat wrapped in his closet.
William had never visited her in college. He never offered, and she never invited.
He wished he saw her more but didn’t want to seem clingy.
David told him he should look for someone else instead of having fun for three
months and remaining lonely for the following nine.
William didn’t think he was waiting for Emily to return. He just never met anyone
during her absence. He talked to women at the gas station during his shifts but
never thought about hitting on them. That seemed too creepy. It was something
Darryl would have done.
It was relatively slow for a Saturday morning. Samantha, a new hire who was
recently trained, manned the register while he made sure the shelves were stocked,