It was a few hours of more quiet. Zack had actually offered the guy a spot in the backroom, thankful for the lack of security cameras aside from the one monitoring the front and the desk. He didn't mention that to Roman of course, just said it was okay, and let him sleep. He had a few customers, but it was a good day, a slow day like it usually was in the colder months and when it gets to closing, he ushered the both of them out and locked up.

He said his fair wells, went on, and went back to his sad little apartment and ate a heavier dinner than usual, having given away his own lunch. He sat next to the telephone like he usually did, wishing that Aerith wasn't constantly under surveillance, that maybe he could call her, if she even wanted to hear from him, and went to bed without having made the call.

It was routine again for quite a while, the snow coming down every other day, Zack refusing to buy a coat until it really got cold because he honestly didn't need it. But same old, same old. He sighed at the counter, waiting for a customer, and tapped his foot against the floor, wanting to be anywhere but the little personal hell he had applied and committed to.