the art of connection | jschlatt

02

Days turned into a week, and the man's absence was palpable in the cafe. You found yourself glancing towards the empty corner more often than not, wondering if he had simply moved on or if he had found another spot to frequent. It was almost as if a shadow had been cast over the once-vibrant cafe, and you found yourself going through the motions, mechanically brewing coffee and serving pastries with a sense of detachment. The memory of the disastrous incident replayed in your mind, tormenting you with the thought that it might have been the reason for his disappearance. Perhaps he had found your clumsiness too much to bear and decided to never return again. You couldn't help but cringe at the thought, feeling a sense of regret wash over you. You should have been more careful, and more aware of your surroundings.

Whilst each day passed, the feeling of disappointment grew stronger, almost becoming a tangible weight on your chest. The city was vast, with countless cafes and shops to choose from, and yet you couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing without the presence of the mysterious man. The sound of the rain tapping against the windowpanes only added to the melancholic atmosphere, casting a gloomy hue over the cafe.

Standing behind the counter, your eyes drifted towards the gloomy skies outside, feeling restless and bored. The cafe was eerily quiet, with only the soft hum of the coffee machine in the background. The lack of customers was unusual, but you didn't mind the quietude. You picked up a napkin and began to doodle aimlessly, letting your hand move across the paper without much thought. The rhythmic sound of the rain tapping against the windowpane added to the peaceful ambience of the café, providing calming background noise. You let your mind wander as your pen danced across the napkin, lost in your own little world.

As you sketched, your pen glided over the surface of the napkin, creating the shape of a small feline. Its pointed ears were perked up as if it were listening intently to its surroundings. Its body was covered in an array of spots, each one carefully placed to add texture and depth to the drawing. The cat seemed to come alive on the napkin as if it could jump off the page at any moment. You took a step back, admiring your handiwork with a sense of satisfaction. It was a simple doodle, but it turned out better than you had expected.

You looked up from your napkin doodle as the bell of the door rang out, signaling the arrival of a new customer. The door had been pushed open, and a gust of wind followed the customer into the shop, bringing with it the sound of raindrops hitting the pavement outside. As the man walked in, you couldn't help but feel a wave of emotions wash over you. On the one hand, you were pleasantly surprised and happy to see him again, but on the other hand, you couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed and self-conscious, knowing that he had witnessed your clumsy mistake just a week prior.

With a deep inhale, you steadied your nerves and put on a friendly smile, hoping to appear approachable and inviting. You greeted him with a tone that was a little too enthusiastic in lieu of your underlying nervousness. You watched the mystery man's expression, trying to gauge his reaction. He returned your smile with a small one of his own, his eyes creasing ever so slightly at the corners. As he approached the counter, you couldn't help but notice how different he looked up close. The light from the window caught on the stubble on his chin, and you couldn't help but admire how the rest of his beard seemed to frame his face. His nose had a prominent shape that added to the chiselled and refined features of his face, and his eyes were the same inviting shade of brown that you remembered, and they seemed to be filled with a warmth and gentleness that you hadn't seen before.

"Just the usual, please," he asked, the softness of his voice matching the serenity of the rainfall outside. You nodded and got to work, your hands moving deftly as you prepared his coffee with a sense of focus and concentration. "Nice cat," he remarked innocently as you followed his gaze towards your drawing. As you turned to look at your own artwork, you felt a blush rise to your cheeks. You had almost forgotten about the little cat drawing on the napkin in front of you. With a shy smile, you thanked him for the compliment and handed him his coffee, your fingers grazing against his as you passed him the cup. The warmth of his hand lingered on yours for a moment, and you couldn't help but feel a small spark of electricity between you.

With a small smile on his lips, he retreated to his self-proclaimed table, his tall frame hunching over his laptop once again. The screen illuminated his face, accentuating the intensity of his gaze. As he settled in, he seemed to slip into a state of focus and concentration, the sound of his fingers tapping away at the keyboard the only indication of his activity. It was as if he had entered a world of his own, a place where he could lose himself in his work without any distractions.

Although you were thrilled to see the mysterious man again, the day dragged on as you carried out your mundane tasks at the shop. While serving customers, wiping tables, and brewing coffee, your mind kept wandering back to the enigmatic stranger. You couldn't help but steal furtive glances at him, observing the way he would take occasional sips of his coffee or crease his forehead in deep thought while working on his laptop. The steady patter of the rain against the windows created a cosy and calming ambience inside the café. As the hours ticked by and the morning rush subsided, you found yourself lost in a daydream, it wasn't until he approached the counter that you snapped back to reality, the sound of his voice pulling you out of your reverie. "That was fantastic, thanks," he said, a smile spreading across his face as he complimented the coffee you had made for him earlier.

"Can I get you another?" As you asked the question, you couldn't help but feel a pang of disenchantment as you noticed the man's laptop tucked under his arm, signalling his departure. He looked at you for a moment, and you couldn't help but feel the intensity of his gaze. His eyes were a deep shade of brown, almost identical to the coffee you had just prepared for him. You noticed the way his pupils dilated slightly as he spoke. "No, thank you," he said softly, the timbre of his voice sending shivers down your spine. You nodded in acknowledgement, concealing your disappointment.

As he reached the door, he turned back towards you and offered a small smile. "Thanks again for the coffee," he said, and then he was gone, swallowed up by the rainy streets outside. You let out a deep sigh and turned your attention back to the counter, wiping it down absently as you tried to shake off the disappointment that had settled over you like a fog. As you went to wipe down his table you noticed what seemed like a slip of paper precariously placed under his mug. Your heart dropped for a second, thinking maybe he had forgotten something important.

Your mind raced as you debated whether or not to pick up the paper. Your heart was pounding in your chest as you reached out and gently lifted the mug, revealing a small slip of paper that had indeed been tucked beneath it. It was a torn piece of notebook paper, crumpled and creased as if it had been hastily folded and unfolded multiple times. Your curiosity was piqued, and you unfolded it carefully, smoothing out the creases with your fingers.

It was his own rendition of the cat that you had drawn earlier. As you gazed down at the drawing, your heart skipped a beat. You couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and gratitude towards the mystery man. The drawing was charming, with its playful lines and endearing imperfections. It was clear that he had put some thought and effort into it, and the gesture felt incredibly personal and intimate. You traced the lines of the cat with your finger, admiring the details that he had added. The spots on the cat's back were arranged in a way that seemed almost deliberate as if he had studied your drawing closely before attempting his own version. You felt a surge of affection towards this stranger.

Carefully folding the drawing back up and placing it into your apron, you continued to clear the table. As you finished cleaning the table, your mind couldn't help but dwell on the thought of whether the mysterious man would return or not, you found yourself lost in a sea of uncertainty and doubt.

The day inevitably came to a close, switching off the lights once more leaving you shrouded in darkness. As you finished up, you felt a sudden surge of hope. Maybe he would come back tomorrow, maybe he would walk through the door and order another cup of coffee. The thought filled you with a sense of excitement and anticipation, and you couldn't help but smile as you locked up the shop and headed home.

But as the days passed and turned into weeks, the mysterious man never returned. You found yourself constantly scanning the faces of the fleeting patrons, hoping to catch a glimpse of him, but he was nowhere to be found. It was as if he had simply vanished into thin air. Despite the disappointment, a small part of you held onto the hope that he would one day return. Maybe he was just busy, maybe he had simply found another coffee shop to frequent. But deep down, you knew the truth. He was a fleeting presence in your life, a mysterious stranger who had come and gone, leaving nothing but a memory and a crumpled drawing of a cat.