Elizabeth Dethroned

Just A Sip

| Chapter 1 |

Just A Sip
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I stood next to a bright red stop sign on 36th street, my yellow raincoat and one of few old, and very much fading, umbrellas held tightly overhead. My umbrella's blue color was shining dimly through the fog and storm. I had layered myself in a heavy amount of coats attempting to make my clothes less chaotically driven than they already had been to start. My mind and body felt numb as I leaned on the trunk of a single oak tree behind the small, navy blue 'Bus Stop Here' sign. It allowed some protection from the harsh weather created by the hands of mother nature herself.

I stood till an unknown hour before any other signs of life showed themselves. Everyone seemed to be like the birds in the treetops, every one of their kind hidden in the thick tree branches of oak lining the dark, narrow road. Every house lined up on the block was worn down and falling apart as time passed. Following the sounds of slow rain and a couple of trees shuffling nearby in the wind acted as a soothing mechanism, I drifted off. The peacefulness sleeping had created for me left when the honk of a horn rose me from my slumber. I sat there comprehending what had happened while the smell of the damp grass and moist tree roots from under me kept me from lulling back to sleep.

Long, wet grass stuck to my boots as I walked the small path until I was beside a metal pole that shone over me, illuminating my pink cheeks and tired eyes. I looked up at the white-bearded driver as his fingers locked tightly on the steering in either frustration or anger. "Ticket?" his voice raised in question, exhaustion hidden among words as I watched him from a distance taking the ticket and sliding it into something. He shook an object in his hands, taking out a small clear, plastic jar stuffed tight with similar yellow and pink colored slips, dumping them all into a small trashcan to later get thrown in a small dump.

I slowly stepped up the steel and yellow-colored stairs, begging my aching legs to have some feeling like I wanted them to. "Thank you, sir." My voice cracked as its scratchy surface ached from the inside out. I walked through the bus, searching for an empty seat, only wanting to be alone. There was this old, dusty smell lingering in my lungs. I sat, crossing my nimble legs as the dirty air tickled my nose, and the morning dew created a heavy chill up my spine. It hung in the air and wetted the metal walls beside me.

I gripped my legs tightly, trying to find a holding while the bus shifted and shuttered. I almost felt out of place here, like the only one without a footing. I waited silently as we made a few sharp turns, the passengers shuffling in their ruff, dark green seating. "103rd off of Williams!" Interrupting my thoughts, the driver called to us like a piercing arrow, and a rollercoaster of thoughts came running through my mind soon to follow. I began to straighten my back and harden my expression as the bus pulled to another stop down the road.

Everything came to a screeching halt as it stopped, and doors opened slowly as a couple of people, including myself, got up to step off. The clapping of my heels tapped down the ridged walkway, "Have a nice day!" The driver shouted to the people stepping out, his white beard shifting as he spoke. Grumbling in return, I let the cold air hit me again as the rain drizzled down my coat. I could smell the hot coffee from miles away, the liquid soothing my itchy throat. With only the image of coffee in my mind to push me forward, I began to walk down the long, chilling sidewalk.

As I walked down the cold, stone path, the busy road towards this coffee shop, its LED glow pushing against the fog and sprinkle of rain that fell from the sky. My whole body was heavy, tears begged to flow as the aching continued, yet I still pushed through to the hot scent of cinnamon and a mocha latte. As the smell of the café just got stronger, my pace picked up, and despite my bones feeling as heavy as they were, I continued. My knees almost gave way as I opened the shop doors.

Cinnamon, chocolate brew, and vanilla milk drifted into my nose and mouth, lingering through the air. "Welcome to Chocolate and Bean! How may I help you?" Followed by a fake, warm smile and the white noises every café seemed to have as I gave her my order, the realization kick's in, there's the sick amount of happiness the workers held made me want to puke in my mouth. "That will be with you shortly, Miss Greenway." Tapping her long nails on the wide computer screen in front of her, she shone one more smile before going in the back with a quick in her step.

My throat and stomach both agreed as they begged for caffeine right about now. I watched from a distance as the lady moved swiftly between the stations found inside the kitchen. My head ached a little more and more as the minutes passed, sitting in the corner booth. My umbrella's blue color stood out to form the cherry red color, leaning against the edge of the booth as I waited for her to call for me.

I mindlessly sat in the corner of the shop, listening to the white noise background as I smelled the vanilla brew from my spot in the dining room, and the barista's made it clear that there was probably a pinch of cinnamon in every beverage and that fresh air scent had me grinning from ear to ear. "Large Cinnamon Latte for Greenway!" That lady's voice projected throughout the shop. I got up to grab my drink, that plastic look she gave, one that screamed 'fake smiles' all over. "Midume Peppermint Mocha for Jim!" She continued like I was never there, calling for another customer who probably believed the lies.

I listened to the gentle tap of the sprinkle of rain and the shifting of the leaves as the bustle of the men and women walking down the pathways of the café created a kind of background music for the forest. I took another long sip of my coffee as I looked to the horizon giving off a rare smile as the sun and the earth met.