After breakfast,Marlo had gone to work at a coffee shop caalled,C is for Coffee.C is for Coffee was located in a tiny brick building on Main St. Marlo had worked here for three years now and was finally accepting that Marco Peor,the owner of C is for Coffee, believed that his coffee was truly the best and didn't need improving.
Marlo sighed and began her shift.
The usualls came in: Mrs.Bomsky, Tom Roper, and Rose Oliver. Everything was the same as the day before. Until around 2:00 in the afternoon. Marlo was getting ready to head home, when one last customer came through the door. It was a very small little man with a black raincoat and matching hat. His coat and hat hid his face and body from view, making him look like a walking black blob.
" Can I help you?"Marlo asked the strange little man.
He laughed. It was a strangely familiar laugh.
Marlo emidiatly thought back to her dream. It couldn't be. That isn't possible, right?
"Oh,but you already have." Said the little man.
"I don't understand what you mean. Please. Who are you and what do you want from me,"Marlo said. Her was even although her mind was racing.
The little man laughed again. His laugh grew quieter, fading away, and then he along with his laugh were, gone from the coffee shop.
The front door opened softly and in walked Marlo with her hands stuffed into the pockets of her jeans. She didn't look up from the floor and went straight towards her bedroom.
Jake moved to stop her," What happened to you Marlo?"
She didn't look up at him.
"Marlo, you have to tell me what happened. I can't help unless I know what the problem is." Jake was even more worried now.
Marlo lifted her head slightly and Jake noticed tears on her face,"I don't have to tell you anything." She pushed past him into her room and slammed the door shut.
Jake just stood outside her door. He didn't know what else to do. Was she mad at him? Is she OK? Do I open this door and demand an answer? He pushed the last thought away. He had known her since she was nine years old and had never seen her like this.
Jake finally decided to open the door and speak with her based upon the reasoning that just because she and himself were both 21 years old, they still needed each other.
He slowly pushed the door open and scanned the room for Marlo.His eyes finally came to rest on Marlo with her knees pulled up to her chest, crying in the far left corner of the room. He walked towards her like one might if they were trying not to scare off a wild animal, which is exactly what Marlo resembled right now.
She looked terrified and was whimpering softly. Her tear streaked face was tight and pinched, and she looked so yong and venerable. Jake could think of nothingto say to comfort her. She seemed so broken.
" I saw him today," Marlo's voice was thin.
"Who?" Jake said gently.
"He spoke to me,"she said,"Would you like to know what he said, Jake?"
"Marlo"
"He laughed at me just like he did in my dream,he told me I had helped him. In what,killing my mother?"
" Marlo, stop. Your mother was sick when she died, she wasn't murdered,especially by you."Jake said.
She lifted her head,"Every night in my dream I watch him lean over my mother's dead body and tell her that she was a foolish girl, and that if she had given him me when I was an infant he wouldn't have had to kill her,Jake,and then he--"
Jake wrapped his arms around her,"It's OK,M, it's OK."
Her shoulders slumped and she began to cry again,but this time it was on Jake's shoulder.
Her body was burning hot and Jake was aware that she was feverish, but he didn't care. All that mattered was making her feel better and holding her until she felt safe again. He did just that and when she fell asleep in his arms he didn't let go he just held her while she slept.
