My Night Shift at the Gas Station is Haunting Me

So here's this thing that has been really weighing on me lately. I work the overnight shift at a gas station in a quiet part of town, and it's honestly gotten pretty lonely and surreal over time. There's no one around for miles, so you really get into your own head when there are long stretches between customers. The other night, something happened that's stuck with me ever since. I was just starting my shift at 10 PM, got to the station ahead of schedule like I always do. Sorted out any issues from the day before and tried not to think too much about what lay ahead, just trying to keep busy until people started showing up. There's a small convenience store inside where most of the action happens. Around 3 AM, a van pulled in with a couple driving back late from who knows where or what. They were both pretty tired, but there was something about them that I couldn't shake off. Maybe it was just my imagination, but it felt like they were having a rough time and just needed somewhere to stop for the night. I ended up selling them some snacks and drinks, and while they were waiting in line, this guy looked at me with such exhaustion and sadness in his eyes. It broke my heart because I couldn't do anything but sell them some stuff. There's nothing really helpful you can offer at a gas station after hours when people just need to talk or rest. After they left, I felt terrible. Here these strangers were passing through with their problems, and the best help I could give was selling overpriced snacks. They didn't even buy much, but it felt like all I had to offer them. Now every night as I'm alone there, my mind keeps going back to that moment. It's not just about feeling useless for helping people in need; it's also this sense of being so isolated from the world when you work these hours. Every time someone drives by or comes inside, I think 'maybe they're looking for a friend,' but all I am is an employee with very limited means to help. I guess what I'm trying to confess here is that it feels like my job at night isn't just serving people; it's reminding me of the limits of human connection when you have to work odd hours. It's been getting harder and harder to shake off this feeling, but maybe putting it out there helps a little.