Liam sighed and looked at the clock. It was 10:55 pm. Only five more minutes until the pharmacy closed. He was tired. The fluorescent lights hummed, and the smell of antiseptic filled the quiet room. He had just finished organising a new delivery of medicine and was ready for his bed.

The bell above the door chimed. A man entered. He was tall and thin, with a nervous look in his eyes. He kept glancing at the street outside.

“Can I help you?” Liam asked, stepping towards the counter.

The man’s voice was a whisper. “I need a prescription. For my sister. It’s a special one.”

He passed a small piece of paper to Liam. On it was written a code: “C-258-F”. Liam had never seen this code before. His stomach felt tight. “I’m sorry, I don’t recognise this.”

The man’s eyes widened. “Please! She is in a lot of pain. I must have it.” His hands were shaking. He pointed to a small bottle on a high shelf. “It’s that one. The green bottle, number 12.”

Liam looked at the shelf. The bottle was labelled “E-773-A”. It was an extremely rare medication, not used for pain at all. He realised this was not a normal request. The man was not a patient. He was trying to tell him something. Liam decided to play along. He got the bottle and placed it on the counter.

The man looked at him. “Thank you,” he said. “Please, give me my change.” He gave Liam a five-pound note.

Liam gave him his change. The man took the coins, and as he did, he quickly pushed a small piece of folded paper into Liam’s hand. He then left the pharmacy quickly.

Liam opened the note. It said: “Wait until after midnight. They are watching you. Do not leave.”

A car suddenly stopped outside. A woman got out. She walked straight towards the pharmacy door. The man on the street disappeared into the shadows.

The woman entered, looking around the empty room with an unsettling smile. “I’m looking for a prescription,” she said, her voice hard. “For my friend. ‘C-258-F’.”

Liam’s mind raced. He remembered the note. He had to be calm. He looked at the woman. “I’m so sorry,” he said, “but we just gave away our last bottle of that. A man came in just now.”

The woman’s face turned red with anger. She looked at him with suspicion. “Are you sure?” she asked, her voice low.

“Yes. I am so sorry,” Liam said, trying to sound believable.

The woman stood there for a moment, then turned and left without another word.

Liam’s heart was beating fast. He locked the door and pulled down the shutters. The small piece of folded paper lay on the counter. He had saved himself from a dangerous situation. He looked at the clock again. 11:05 pm. It was going to be a long night. But he was safe.

---

Vocabulary Notes

Hummed
Definition: To make a low, continuous sound.
Example: “The fluorescent lights hummed…”
Similar words: buzzed, droned, murmured.

Antiseptic
Definition: A substance used to prevent germs from growing, often with a distinct, clean smell.
Example: “…the smell of antiseptic filled the quiet room.”
Similar words: disinfectant, steriliser, sanitiser.

Nervous
Definition: Feeling worried and a little afraid about something that might happen.
Example: “He was tall and thin, with a nervous look in his eyes.”
Similar words: anxious, worried, uneasy, tense.

Unsettling
Definition: Causing a feeling of worry or discomfort; making you feel uneasy.
Example: “She looked around the empty room with an unsettling smile.”
Similar words: disturbing, worrying, disquieting, strange.

Suspicion
Definition: A feeling or belief that someone is doing something wrong or dishonest.
Example: “She looked at him with suspicion.”
Similar words: mistrust, doubt, distrust.

Story written by Gemini AI.

Image created by 1min.ai.

To read ALL the stories/content in FULL, please go to http://www.steveuk.blog Thank you.

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