Our Immeasurable Bond

Chapter 3

Enid pushed open the door to the cafe, her movements sluggish and her eyes heavy with exhaustion. The dim light inside did little to mask the fatigue etched into her features.

She couldn’t shake the images from last night, they replayed in her mind like a broken record, each iteration more haunting than the last.

Yoko, who was meticulously wiping down the tables, glanced up as the bell above the door jingled.

She immediately noticed the dark circles under Enid's eyes and the weary slump of her shoulders.

Confusion creased her brow as she watched her friend drag herself inside.

"What happened to you?" Yoko asked, her voice a mix of concern and curiosity.

She put down the cloth and took a step closer, her eyes searching Enid's face for answers.

Enid rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to wipe away the fatigue as she made her way toward the back of the cafe.

"Just didn't get enough sleep," she responded, her voice barely above a whisper. The words felt hollow even as she said them.

She knew it was more than just a lack of sleep, but she wasn't ready to talk about what she had witnessed.

Enid sighed deeply as she tied the strings of her apron around her waist, her mind still foggy with fatigue and lingering memories from the previous night.

She took a moment to compose herself, trying to shake off the heavy feeling that clung to her. As she stepped out from the back room and into the main area of the cafe, she didn’t expect the sight that greeted her.

Standing just inside the entrance was Wednesday, her expression as composed and inscrutable as ever.

The dark-haired girl exuded an aura of calm detachment, her eyes scanning the cafe with a practiced indifference.

Beside her was Tyler, his face lit up with a friendly smile that contrasted sharply with Wednesday's stoic demeanor.

Enid's heart skipped a beat at the sight of her friends. She hadn't anticipated their visit, especially not this morning when she felt so worn out and distracted.

"Wait, are they..." Yoko's words trailed off as she glanced toward the entrance, her eyes widening in recognition.

She watched as Wednesday and Tyler made their way further into the cafe.

Enid felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor, not wanting to meet Wednesday's piercing eyes.

The sight of her, while comforting in some ways, also stirred up the emotional turmoil she had been trying to suppress.

"Um, can you do the register today?" Enid asked, her voice slightly shaky. "I'll just serve."

Yoko turned her attention back to Enid, her expression softening with concern.

"Are you sure you can do it?" she asked gently. The worry in her tone was unmistakable. She could sense that something was seriously bothering her friend.

Enid nodded, trying to appear more confident than she felt.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," she insisted.

The thought of staying behind the counter, interacting with customers at a distance, felt overwhelming at the moment. She needed to keep moving, to stay busy, and serving tables seemed like the best way to do that.

"Alright then," Yoko agreed reluctantly, giving Enid one last searching look before turning her attention back to the register.

She knew better than to push Enid when she was in this state, but she couldn't help but feel worried about her.