Moon Shaped Birthmark

The Coffee Shop

 Today was not my day. Woke up past my alarm, tripped over my cat's toy falling on my wrist and I'm pretty sure I sprained it. I went downstairs and nearly tripped on a step while trying to put my thick brown hair back in a bun. Definition of a bad day? But it gets worse! As I come down the stairs my cat begins to meow at me furiously for her food and the kitchen clock is beeping beyond control. The electricity must have gone off last night and the clock malfunctioned, which is odd, there was no storm last night or wind to interfere with the lines. I continue to make my breakfast, running through a list of things I need to get before I leave, 'keys, computer, textbook, notebook, backpack, water bottle' Am I forgetting something? The kitchen clock begins to beep again. 'Again? What's wrong with that thing!' I reset it back to the regular time and try to pick up where I left off. Breakfast. I quickly make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and shove one half in my mouth while I grab my keys off the kitchen counter. I already can't wait for this day to be over, 7am and a mess already. I rush upstairs to grab my laptop and put it in my backpack. Just as I am about to walk out my bedroom door, I spot a black blob in the corner of my eye. I turn quickly, remembering to grab my glasses before I leave, but step on Muchi instead.
"Muchi! What are you doing here?" Cats always seem to find the right place and the wrong time to trip you. "What do need Muchi I'm in a rush?!" She stares at me blankly and is mocking my forgetfulness.

"Your food!" I had forgotten to fill his food! My mess of a brain can't handle the morning and a headache starts to ping in my left temple. Perfect, exactly what I needed before a day of work. I swing my gray canvas backpack over my shoulder and make my way downstairs, Muchi following right behind me. As much as I love that cat, he has already started to annoy me this morning. Quickly making my way downstairs, careful not to slip with my socks on, I head back into the kitchen to refill his food bowl. I pass by the other half of the sandwich and shove it in my mouth, peanut butter sticking to my mouth and my throat begging for water. Water! I had forgotten my water! Hands whipping around I fetch my water bottle from the kitchen cabinet and feel around for my metallic blue bottle. I finally find it and refill it with water. The speed of the water seems to take a million years with the pace my morning has been going. My foot begins to tap in an irritated pattern and my heart starts to race. Almost there. Once my bottle is halfway full I shove it in the side pocket of my backpack and take one more look around the kitchen, checking my mental checklist again to see if I have forgotten anything. All seeming fine, I head to the front door but something in the back of my mind seems unwell. I look back at the cat, making sure he is not getting into trouble, my mental radar seems to go off right before he does something mischievous, but he looks back at me sitting on the counter, again, as if mocking my busy morning. Why do cats always look at you like that? Some part of me wonders if he can read my mind and sense my stress. I turn back around and open the front door, ready to go, but when my socks touch the cement porch, I realize I have forgotten something very important. My clothes and shoes! How could I forget that?! I drop my backpack angrily at the foot of the door and run back upstairs to my room to grab some clothes. Without looking I grab the closest shirt in the closet, a grey long sleeved V-neck, and pair it with some loose-fitting blue jean pants. I spot my phone on my nightstand and grab that as well. Good thing I came back up here. I put it in my back pocket without bothering to check my notifications and the time, I don't want to know how badly I screwed up this morning. I take one last glance in my bedroom mirror and head out the door. I don't look my best, but presentable enough for the day. Back downstairs I go, it seems I am running in loops. I grab my bag at the door and slip on my black combat boots before stepping out into the cool autumn air. It feels refreshing after running around the house like a madman. I didn't realize how much I was sweating until I stepped out into the fresh air. I take a deep breath in and try to calm my mind. One hurdle done for the day. I start to walk towards main street, heading for the local coffee shop, my typical working place, and try to clear my mind of unimportant things. The tapping of my boots on the ground and the wind blowing against my face calm me just enough before stepping into the cozy half-lit coffee shop. They always liked to keep the lights dim and yellow Christmas lights up behind the counter to give off a cozy vibe. The smell of coffee fills the air and I take a big breath in, it's like therapy for the wandering mind.