My Crazy Neighbor

Unwanted Coffee

*ARTWORK DOES NOT BELONG TO ME*

Something odd happened this morning.

Like every Wednesday, I started my day early in the morning and prepared myself to head down to work at Twersky MD where I'm doing my internship.

As I was getting ready to leave my apartment and down to the office, I found a small iced coffee at my doorstep. An iced coffee. It hadn't been sitting there for too long; the ice was still intact. I got down to get a closer look. There was a pink sticky note in it.

As suspicious as this looks, I had a very good idea of who had left this little gift outside my place.

Sorry for all the noise, neighbour :)

I analyze her handwriting; such big cursive letters. There's a curve in the y and a fancy loop in the l. Obviously, I can tell she really paid attention to the words as she wrote them. She wanted them to look perfect but not too perfect. It was quite probable that she tried it several times until she came up with the version she liked the best. It was an attempt to give me a good second impression.

"Just what I needed," I say sarcastically while I lock the door behind me and pick up the Dunkin coffee. It has caramel, too. I take the drink with me and not bother to knock to say something. I'm quite sure Rey must be sleeping after being out all right.

Elevator or stairs?

"Stairs," I affirm.

After going down the three flight of stairs, I find what I was looking for: the trash bin in the main entrance. In goes the coffee and I squirt some hand sanitizer in my hands.

"Good day," I say to the Dunkin coffee as I push the door with my back and not my freshly sanitized hands.

I'm not drinking a stringer's coffee. You never know what's really in the drink. It could have anything from urine to cum. Don't ask me how I know this. Besides, I like my coffee hot and black with sugar, no cream or any other flavors. Coffee is coffee, not a smoothie. It shouldn't have ice in it. It defies the whole idea of drinking coffee.

~

Mom
Are you coming over to visit? Your father and I miss you dearly.
Received at 9:18am

Me
I've been busy. It'll be for the next holiday.
Delivered at 11:42am

Mom
You said that last year. I'm not getting any younger, dear boy. We don't need to wait for a holiday to see each other.
Received at 11:49am

Me
I'll let you know.
Delivered at 1:06pm

With that, I finish texting with my mother. That should suffice for now. She knows I'm alive and working and everything is good. Now, I can return to the office and get readyfor the next patient Dr. Twersky and have have been treating. Today, it's my turn to assess and make the questions, so I'm quite excited.

~

"Mr. Ingram, how do you feel in relation to other people? Do you ever feel detached from the people around you?" I ask him with a calm voice.
"I dunno," the man shrugs. "Why should I feel attached to people? Like, I feel NO need to connect with people right now. I'm just tired of everyone and everything. Can I speak openly?"
"Of course."

Ingram sits at the edge of his seat. I peek at Dr Twersky, who gives me a quick nod.

"Just fuck 'em. I don't give a shit. Why should I care?" Says the patient, matter of factecly.
"It's a good question, not gonna lie," I smile.

Damn, it is a good question. I start to think about the matter and desperately look for a way to answer him. My hands begin to sweat. But Dr. Twersky sees I'm in a pickle so she pumps in.

"It's hard to care when we feel others don't care for us the same way..."

She gracefully takes over as I sit there contemplating my own personal questions. Do I care? Do I give a shit?

~

That afternoon, I arrive at my apartment building all discouraged and depressed. Today, I don't feel like going up the stairs. The elevator is slow and smells like weed. I do not like it for nothing.

The door opens and I drag myself to my,door. As I look for my keys, I hear light footsteps coming up the stairs. And then she appears, with her yoga leggings and tank top. This is the first time I see her entirely.

She's petite, her body athletic and toned. Her legs are strong and her arms are well defined. She looks surprised to see me; I am surprised to see her.

"Hello, neighbour," she says, cheerful.
"Hi," I say, completely unsure of how to behave now. Why do I feel so stupid? 
"Did you like your coffee?"

Ah, that's why. I feel the urge of running away and never coming back. I wanted to disappear. Rey looks at me, awaiting, for my response.

Say something! Say you didn't drink it because you don't drink from strangers. What am I, five? Fuck! Be a man and say you didn't drink it, period. I don't have to explain myself to no one. Why does she Keep looking at me with those big, olive eyes?

Ben, what's the matter with you?

"It was really good. Thanks."

Liar. Liar, liar, pants on fire.