𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘀 - 𝗠. 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 | ✔︎

𝟭. ➪ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝟭 ~ 𝗔 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗢𝗳 𝗭𝗼𝗲

13th of May 2021

It's 9am on a lovely Thursday in London when suddenly my alarm clock goes off.

Whilst grunting I shut it off and climb out of bed. I open the curtains, only to reveal the sun shining through. While squinting my eyes I turn to my bed to tidy it before I put on my running cloth to prepare for a little morning run.

This was my daily routine and I can't imagine it differently.

After finishing my run and taking a shower I'm ready to go to work.

I've has been working at the 'Craving Coffee' since I turned 17. I began to work here so one day I could live on my own. I lived in a shelter with other kids and to say that it was horrible was an understatement. I moved out of the shelter when I had saved enough money to buy a small apartment in Tottenham, the suburb I grew up in.

I worked from Monday to Friday ever since I'd been living on my own. This way I had enough money to afford my apartment and to every now and then go out.

I barely came around the first months I lived here. When groceries were done and bills were paid I hardly had money for anything else. I, however, got a raise after working at Craving Coffee for several first, resulting into me to have more money to spend in the weekends.

As I make my way to work by foot I take the environment in around me. Even though I grew up here, London and especially Tottenham will always have my heart. It's why I always walked to work in the morning, catching the bus after my shifts, anxious to run into anything frightening.

As I arrive at the Craving Coffee I put on the apron workers have to wear. Exactly when I'm done changing the clock ticks 10am, meaning my shift has begun.

My shifts have always been between 10am and 4pm, meaning I'm working 6 hours a day. It sometimes is exhausting and sometimes is exciting. The thrill of meeting and interacting with strangers always was there whenever I had shifts, however, which made it very bearable. I just love making peoples' days with small comments or helping them start the day off right.

While I'm cleaning a table I suddenly hear a squeal behind me, causing me to almost drop the tea towel I was using.

"Hey Zoë!"

"Hey Hayley." I cheer in return while hugging the blonde girl in front of me, gripping tightly on her as I smelt a scent of the vanilla deodorant she always used.

Hayley has been a friend of mines since the first time I'd gone out properly. I met her at the party I was attending and we clicked immediately. After hearing about my condition in the shelter she offered me a job so I could move out soon. Until this day I can't thank her enough for what she's done for me already.

"So I got some good news for you." She leans on one hip as she looks me in the eyes, joy sparkling from them as they look into mines. She never is like this, all cheerful in the morning at 10am. She's always the grumpy one and I'm always the cheerful customer, but today the tables had turned.

"You are free after lunch." She declares as she claps her hands, probably hoping her announcement would make me excited.

"Why?' Am i fired?" I ask, her comments making my heart skip a beat. Don't get me wrong, a day off always sounds good, but I somehow feel anxious about it. What if my wage gets cut short or she doesn't want me here anymore.

"Don't worry, you aren't fired Zoo." She grins as she gets a hold of me by placing her hands on my shoulders.

"But why would you voluntarily give me a day off?" I ask Hayley, still in a state of confusion. She never let me take a day off and when she asked if I wanted the day off I always said no, afraid she'd give me less salary at the end of the month. After all she is, besides one of my best friend, my boss.