Coffee & Blood

Chapter Three: Reasons to Try

    Saturday brought weather so bright I thought I had woken up in heaven. The sun filled the coffee shop with rays of light, warmth, and people. It was the first bit on sunlight in a while and it had broken through the wall of seasonal depression that had built up. The usual 9 to 5 workers that frequented the coffee shop was replaced with people carrying bags of merchandise that they had purchased from some of the many stores in the area. Children in thick coat laugh in their seats while the adults gossip and catch up on the events of their week. Even Mr. Gerald is engaging in the conversations with the costumers with a bright smile on his face. It's funny how a little good weather can make that man do the things that he tells me to do less of.

    I sip on the water I brought from home as my head pulses in slight pain. I go to pull out a pack of pain pills I keep under the counter when the jingling of the bell catches my attention. Bouncing blonde hair and a bright white smile comes skipping into the shop bringing a smile to my face. Her green eyes lock on to mine and I prepare myself as she sucks in half the air from the coffee shop.

    "Aniyah!" She squeals so loud that the rest of the shop goes quiet for a moment. She bounces over to me going around the counter and pulling me into a tight hug.

    "Mary Lynn, it's been a while!" I giggle as I pull away to look at her better. Her face is lit up with a bright a smile and her eyes hold a sparkle that could be worth a million dollars. I remember when I first met her. She walked into the coffee shop at the start of winter complaining about the cold with an accent so thick I thought I had teleported back home for a second. When I started talking, she squealed so loudly I thought my ears would burst. From that moment on we were stuck together like white on rice. "Girl, I feel like I ain't seen you in thousand years. How have you been?"

    "Oh, I ain't been doin' nothin' but," she sticks out her hand, "getting engaged!"

    "Oh my goodness!" It's my turn to squeal. I grab her hand and examine the rock that sits on her ring finger. The large diamond catches the sun rays and sparkles like magic. This ring is probably worth 10 times my rent. It's no surprise that Mary Lynn would be the one wearing it, she's got a personality that would make any man fall to their knees and a body that would make them stay there. Who would've thought that a southern belle in a concrete jungle would cause some damage. "So, which one is it?"

    "Oh hush." She playfully slaps my arm. "I'm leaving that life behind cause I'm a fiancé now." She shimmies and giggles as she examines her own ring. Her happiness is infectious. She's the only person I know who could shine brighter than the sun itself. Witnessing her happiness could make the coldest of hearts just burn up and melt on the spot. I wonder what would happen if I sat her and Mr. Cold and Grey at the same table. Maybe I should ask her to come back this evening.

    "Oh grandpa Gerald!" She waves Mr. Gerald over to the counter and holds out her hand in front of his face. "I'm gonna be a wife."

    "May God save his soul." Mr. Gerald laughs as he pulls her into a tight hug. I cringe as she rocks the fragile man side to side as she laughs with excitement. If she shakes him any harder, he might just break off at the hip. Before my fear can be realized, she pulls away from Mr. Gerald and looks at me.

    "Aniyah you have to come catch my bouquet." She holds my hands in hers and look at me with determination brewing in her eyes. "I want you to get married next so we can go to brunch and complain about how irritating our husbands are while using their credit cards."

She really has this planned out. I don't have the heart to tell her that I probably won't be here that long. I haven't told any of them that I won't be here any longer than maybe a few years if life shows me mercy. I couldn't bear witnessing the same heartbreak my family experienced again.