The Standard of Secrets

The Grey Scented Brew

Ding❗💬

We always had something to talk about until you were gone.

The silence you left behind became a habit I had to break. I had to stop wishing you good mornings, quit expecting your smile as I walked through those doors, and refrain from calling you to discuss the day's random happenings. Now, you were simply gone, and something inside me shattered. For what is broken cannot always be fixed. I still remembered the argument we had before that shattering silence took over, a disagreement that left us both unhappy and scared. But you never allowed me to hear your side before you disappeared.

The days that followed were far from joyful; I was in a conflict with myself, plagued by questions. Why did you say, what you did? Why wouldn't you listen to me? Why? Why? Why?...

🔔*Chime* *Chime* *Chime*🔔

The overhead bell on the door rang as I entered this quaint little bistro. I had been meaning to come here, and today, I finally stepped in. The bistro's glass walls bathed the space in warm light. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee hung in the air, wrapping me in a comforting embrace. Potted trees were scattered throughout, standing tall and vigilant, as if they were silent companions ready to engage in conversation.

I settled into my usual, a corner. As my thoughts drifted from my seat to my judgement of its tranquil environment, "Hi, what can I get you? " A deep, faint voice came from the background, pulling me back to my seat.

"Can I bother you with a triple-shot Espresso? " I replied to the voice as I drift to my thoughts only this time it wasn't something mundane. Drifting back to the past, It wasn't just a coffee order; it was a journey through memories I wanted to escape but couldn't. Four years had passed, yet the memory of you ordering a "Romeo and Juliet" ice-cream roll for me remained vivid. It was my first experience with something so sweet, something I found amusing, but back then, I would have embraced anything, even poison.

The barista set down my coffee and continued, "Would you like to try a special? " Irritated by interactions these days, I scowled. I glanced up to put a face to the voice, and there, before me, stood a man with piercing grey eyes. They were deep enough to draw me in, yet tinged with mystery and sadness that held me at a distance. His black shirt matched his tousled hair, wrinkles hinting at a long night. His eyes, with a faint redness at the edges, seemed puzzled by my annoyance, as if he were questioning himself. Unbeknownst to him, my aversion to interactions had been a gift from you. The years I spent with you left me scared, making it difficult to open up or even engage in small talk. It wasn't that I couldn't; it was that I didn't want to. I find it tedious and boring.

 "People always lie, their smiles are a mask that hide their truth."

He continued, "Maybe it's best for me to come back later. It seems I've disturbed you." I gazed at him, and as his expression shifted from a mix of a smile and confusion to one of a smile and disappointment, I murmured, "A refill."

"Sorry? " he inquired.

"I said you can come back for a refill whenever you want " I replied, resigned to my perpetual presence at the café.

His face lit up with a brilliant smile. "Awesome! My name's Tristan. Call me anytime you need anything else. I'll be sure to check up on that refill time and again! ".

I couldn't comprehend his excitement over the thought of a refill, but then again, why should I care?