Shifts Feel Like Years Lately

I've been working in this small-town retail store for over two years now. At first, the job was a nice change from my university studies and a good way to earn some extra cash. But as days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, it's started feeling like an endless loop of restocking shelves and scanning barcodes. I still smile and greet customers, but inside, it feels more like going through the motions than actual work. The other day, this old lady came in asking about a discontinued product, and I had to explain that we couldn't help her because it was no longer available. As I watched her leave disappointed, I felt like I should have done something different, even if it wasn't my job to do so. Moments like those make me realize how little impact I might be having on the people who visit the store. It's hard not to feel a bit hollow when you're just another cog in a big machine.