the two coffee sat on the counter, steam rising from the top, as i waited for elle. rain was falling, a light mist that coated the pavement, making everything shimmer.
i waited. my eyes roamed to the clock and then to the barista and then back to my coffee.
the door swung open.
elle.
her eyes, the eyes of the moon, craters of sadness, scanned the coffee shop before resting on me. the side of her mouth quirked up and she slid into the booth across from me.
"hey," she said. she took the coffee and tried a sip. "thanks."
"i owed you." i shrugged.
"so," elle started. "your note." she paused and inhaled the smell of coffee, trying a small smile.
"i promised to give you reasons to float. and i will. starting tomorrow."
she stared at me, those craters of pain reflecting in them.
"promise?" her voice was shaky. "don't promise me lies."
elle took in a deep breath and for a moment her eyes fluttered shut.
she's hiding her fear. she must be afraid of lies. someone must've promised her lies before.
her eyes opened again. and i decided not to focus on the craters, but the actual lovely moon. but a moon isn't a moon without craters, and a person isn't a person without sadness and pain and suffering.
and so i said two words. they almost got stuck in my throat, like the coffee.
"i promise."
YOU ARE READING
37 Days
Conto❝he was there for 37 days, she needed him for a thousand more❞ 189 5/6/15
