With Coffee and Tears

A whoosh of icy wind fell into the cozy coffee shop as he shoved the heavy glass doors open. Warmth and welcoming, soft, earthy colors greeted him, contrasting the harsh winter weather and sharp, piercing white outside. A blast of the strong aroma of coffee hit him in the face, as the man blinked rapidly, trying to adjust his vision to the new sights. Slowly, he trudged to the cashier register up ahead, leaving a faint trail of ice that rapidly melted to minuscule puddles. Heaving a heavy sigh, the man lethargically placed his hands down onto the counter and waited patiently as the gentleman who worked there finished up the orders before. Finally, the gentleman wiped his hands on a stained light blue towel, and glided over to the man, a grin on his face.

With a voice that held the same brightness as the beaming smile on his face, the gentleman asked, “Hello! Haven’t seen you in a while! The usual two, I assume?”

The man visibly flinched, then gave another heavy sigh.

“No. Just the coffee this time,” he muttered, weakly running a hand through his tousled, damp hair.

Casting a sympathetic and knowing glance, the gentleman wordlessly rang up the order. The man tossed a couple dollars onto the counter, murmuring, “Keep the change.”

The gentleman softly thanked him, then left, leaving the man alone once more. Sighing for yet another time since he entered the small cafe, the man trudged over to a seat isolated in the corner, and collapsed tiredly into the plush-like chair. Staring at the round coffee table in front of him, tears began to prick at the back of his eyes, threatening to send him into sobs again. Closing his eyes, he dragged a hand down his face.

Everything reminded him of her. It was impossible to avoid.

The prickling sensation grew to a hot burn. His chest constricted until it felt hard to breathe normally.

He could still hear her soft, sad voice ringing in his ears. Still see that small smile on her lips. That teary look in her eyes.

“I think we should take a break.”

“W-what?”

“You know what I mean.”

Silence.

“For how long? A couple weeks?”

He was practically on his knees, begging her now. His eyes were threatening to spill bucketfuls of salty, bitter tears as they gazed shakily at her. But it was to no avail. Because all she did was smile. All she did was give him a small smile, then slowly get up and leave the restaurant, leaving him with nothing but shattered remnants of what was once his heart, and $13.15 of change.

She smiled, because she knew.

He just didn't want to face it.

Silent sobs racked his body as he clutched the part of his coat over his heart. Tears dripped, one by one, onto the wooden table.

It hurt. It hurt so badly.

It was a constant ache and stab. A constant reminder that he was now alone in this world. It was torture.

He stayed that way, just sobbing, until a steaming mug of coffee was carefully set onto the table. The man looked up, red eyed and cheeks glistening, to see the kind, soft gaze of the gentleman. Sitting up straighter just a bit, the man shakily grasped the handle of the mug, and choked out a thank you.

The gentleman just smile, bent down, and whispered, “You’re not alone, my friend.”

The man just gave a tiny, bittersweet smile, and one short, slow nod. Satisfied, the gentleman returned to work.

For the rest of the day, the man sipped at his coffee, and stared out the window at the spiraling fractals of snow and reminisced of the happy past.