Coffeeshop Chronicles #2: Alone, Together

“Shit.”

Marta dropped her coffee spilling it on the counter.

“I don’t have time for this,” she whispered as she shakily grabbed the nearest napkins.

Her two daughters instinctively moved to help her—yet fear kept them at a distance.

While Marta scrambled to clean up the coffee, her daughter Anna quietly walked out of the coffeeshop.

Wiping the coffee off her arm, she saw the time and muttered, “We have to go.” And she walked out, not realizing she left her other daughter.

Eva, realizing she stood alone, opened the door inviting the cold winter air into the warm coffeeshop.

With distance between each of them, the three silently walked down the Polish street— with a glazed look on their faces.

Marta, gripping the coffee carrier firmly, walked as each anxious thought flooded her mind.

“Where will we go?” 

“What can I do?”

“What will he—” 

Her thought was interrupted.

 A car nearly hit Anna.

“Shit.”

Marta dropped her coffee spilling it on the concrete.

Anna looked back at her mom without emotion. They both watched each other for what felt like minutes.

Anna silently continued to cross the street.

“Anna,” Eva whispered. Yet, the cold wind carried youngest’s voice away.

They reached the apartment and walked up the old stairs to their tiny room.

As they opened the door they were greeted by unfamiliar scents. They knew each smell—yet, each one was a reminder that this wasn’t home.

They sat down on the mattress laid on the cold floor and looked over their mothers phone.

They each read the latest news headline.

Russia has surrounded Kiev. 

Eva whispered, “I hope Dad is okay.”

Marta, putting down her phone, hugged Eva and Anna.

“Moya lyubov, we will see him soon.”

Excerpt: This post was written after observing a mother and her children walking together, yet separately. It was an exploration of assuming the best and there must be some intense trial that is affecting their family unit. It was a reminder of the importance of caring for each member of your family even when times are intense and isolating.

Photo by Erik Witsoe on Unsplash

Coffeeshop Chronicles #1: Ronald & The Green Oxygen Tank

Reunited with his wife of 27 years — Ronald held the door as they walked into their favorite restaurant in Tuscany, Italy. Sitting at their usual table, they held hands, staring deeply into each other’s eyes.

Ronald began to think about how refreshing this was — to be seen by the one he loved.

As he refocused his attention on his wife, she began to stare blankly at him.

Ronald said her name softly but she didn’t react.

This time — more firmly — he called her name. Still there was no answer.

Ronald continued to call her name with each time becoming louder and louder. Yet, each time he called her name, she progressively seemed further and further away.

As Ronald’s voice reached a full yell, tears began to drop from his eyes.

Suddenly, his voice was no longer heard in the restaurant. Ronald was now sitting alone in Tuscany, Italy.

He whispered his wife’s name one last time.

• • •

Ronald’s eyes shot open. Looking to the left side of his bed, he was met with a pillow and empty space. Remembering his dream, the weight of loneliness came crashing upon him. The aches and pains throughout his body began to remind him of his old age.

He breathed a heavy sigh and remembered: Today is Saturday.

Slowly, he exited his bed — joints cracking at each movement. With a last effort, he began to proudly stand full height. Almost immediately upon reaching peak height, he felt a sharp tug on his nose and heard a crash behind him.

He forgot about his green oxygen tank.

With blood dripping from his nose, he shuffled to the green oxygen tank on the floor and groaned as he picked it up.

Holding the green tank close to his face, he grumbled a curse. Every time he saw the oxygen tank, he was reminded of his wife’s death and that his was soon to come.

Letting out another sigh, he shuffled to his closet to put on a handsome suit — one that he used to wear proudly to work before his wife died.

Getting into his car, he drove to the local coffeeshop to occupy his time and read the newspaper. 

When he arrived he saw that his usual table was occupied by three young boys — all of which looked related.

The youngest of the three began to use the eldest brothers camera to take photos. Finding angles, he began to stand comfortably on his chair. After seeing this for 10 minutes, Ronald couldn’t hold in his frustration anymore. All he could think of was his wife falling from the kitchen chair, landing on her head and dying within seconds.

Ronald erupted in frustration at the boys. “How could the eldest allow the youngest to stand on a chair and take photos,” he thought to himself. Tears began to stream down his face as he grabbed his oxygen tank and began to argue with the eldest who was clearly offended.

The conversation ended and Ronald was left with his crossword puzzle writing lonely.

Excerpt: This post was written based off an encounter with a coffee shop customer. It is an attempt to allow the writer to see the perspective of the character of which he felt offended by in real life. It is an attempt to assume the best and try to maintain an attitude of understanding other’s perspectives.

Photo by Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash

FINISH: The Beginning of Growth

This is a fight against the ever growing list of incomplete projects and ideas.

A space where I can create without an audience.

This is not a portfolio but an area to grow and experiment with ideas.

In growth, there will be repetition.

in growth, there won’t be perfection.

But there will be completion.

Welcome to FINISH.

(Here’s to not having this be the last post I do in this series)