"Order for Robin!" I call out cheerily, sliding the steaming latte across the counter. I watch the customer -presumably Robin- take their drink while I smooth out my apron, before returning to the next order on my list.
Eventually, rush hour ends, and I pour myself a plain black coffee. While I announce to my coworkers that I'm taking my break, I take off, and hang up my apron. Before situating myself on one of the plush seats in the breakroom. I take a sip of coffee as I pull my laptop out of my backpack, opening the device to an unfinished homework assignment.
"Great..." I mumble to myself, the cheeriness from before gone.
While staring at my work, I decide to text my partner Aster, to double-check our dinner plans. She responds immediately, as always, causing my to giggle, trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
A sigh escapes my lips, as I read their message.
'Corse im still on for 2nite Lethe! How could i not when ibve missef you so muchhhhhhhhop?'
Reading her message makes me smile, used to the constant and seemingly never-ending typos. I reply a moment later with a simple, yet meaningful message.
'Awww I miss you too dear. Can't wait to see you tonight! <3'
Once the message sends, I set my phone down, and begins working on my homework, almost instantaneously forgetting why I didn't want to work on it in the first place.
A few hours pass, and the next thing I know, I'm done with my shift. But, I stay an extra half hour, so my coworkers can leave early, as I normally do. To be fair, I don't just do it for their sake, nor do I do it for the extra cash.
I love taking the closing shifts, because then it's just me, on my own in the cafe, free to do whatever I want to do. After completing the daily closing tasks such as; sweeping, totaling up the profit & tips, discarding the unused coffee, and cleaning the appliances, I lock up the cafe, before climbing into my car and driving back to my apartment to get ready for dinner.
It's not until roughly halfway through getting ready when I notice I left the card I made for Aster at the cafe. A small groan escapes me as I finish getting ready. Dashing out of my apartment once I'm ready, I enter my car and drives back to the cafe, while debating if I have the time to buy a bouquet for her as well.
A few minutes later, I'm back at the Cafe, and I quickly go inside, almost missing the black SUV outside the building. I eventually find Aster's card while stumbling around in the dark. Just as I'm about to exit the break room, I hear a sound in the kitchen.
...Footsteps? Tapping? Some... clicking? I'm not quite sure what noises specifically, but being the only employee there, I step towards the kitchen door cautiously, then opens the door hesitantly.
'Maybe it's just a rat?' I think to myself nervously, ultimately praying otherwise, because of my lack of... 'respect'... towards rats and mice alike. Though, I continue stalking carefully through the kitchen, my eyes darting around the dimly lit room, trying to find the source of the sound.
Suddenly, I feel a sharp stinging in my stomach, and I glance down to figure out what caused my pain, then I see it. The tip of a knife, covered in blood, ...MY blood. I...I'd been stabbed...?
With my remaining energy, I turn around in attempts to see who stabbed me, but the next thing I know, I'm on the ground, the knife piercing through my torso further, causing me to scream in pain, or so I thought, as no noise came out.
The thought of death has always been something I avoided. I was never fond of the idea, nor what comes after. But now? ...I'm about to die. I've never believed the 'life flashing before one's eyes' lines, and now it's actually happening.
My life is flashing before my eyes. Replaying in my memories. Sixteen years of my life, playing like a movie. I watch events unfold that I cannot recall. I'm terrified, and can't make a sound. My body is going numb, my head is throbbing, my thoughts are too loud, and-
My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of... laughter?
That's right. I forgot someone else is here. Someone in this room who wanted me gone. But who? Why me? What did I do to them to deserve...this?
Above me, the laughter drifts off, and I hear a woman mumble quietly as she strokes my hair.
"I'm sorry Lethe. I... I didn't have a choice. Please... Don't hate me for this...-"
She says more, however, I don't process it. My body slowly grows cold and my consciousness fades. The last thing I feel is the blade being pulled out of my stomach and another sharp pain, before drifting off into a never-ending sleep.
