𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝑅𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑛

7

𝓚𝓪𝓲𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓲'𝓼 𝓹𝓸𝓿:

To say that my life is falling apart would be an understatement.

But..it's okay, i'm still breathing and i still have a roof over my head so it's not really that bad.

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In the dimly lit bathroom stall, I sit, hunched over a meager lunch of bruised apple slices and a half-eaten sandwich. The harsh fluorescent light casts unflattering shadows, but i don't mind; the silence is a refuge from the laughter and chatter of the cafeteria. As i eat, tears mingle with my crumbs, each bite a reminder of the loneliness that echoes through the empty space around me. My only companions are the peeling paint and the hollow sound of my own solitude, each day a stark reminder of the friends i wish i still had.

But...it's okay

Every class, as the teacher announces partner assignments, my heart plummets into a chasm of despair. i sit in agonizing silence, watching the classroom buzz with chatter, laughs and jokes, each pair's laughter a blade to my lonely heart. As everyone shifts to sit next to someone, the seat next to mine is left untouched, a shadow on the edges of camaraderie. The teacher's hesitant glance and forced sympathy do little to ease the crushing weight of my isolation, I smile back at her for her not to feel bad. My fingers tremble as I take my place at a solitary desk, my tears spilling onto untouched worksheets. Each day, the same crushing realization settles in: I'm invisible, a constant reminder of a world that never reaches out, leaving my heartache to echo in the empty spaces where friendships used to be.

But it's okay...

The girls who used to be my friends laughing and whispering everytime i walk past them, my grades dropping so low that I'm considering not applying for law school.

But it's okay...

In the bustling café, I move through my shift with a tight smile and a heavy heart, the laughter and chatter of my co-workers a painful backdrop to my isolation. Every greeting is met with a cold nod, every attempt at conversation a quick dismissal. I watch from the periphery as they huddle in their tight-knit groups, their whispers and sidelong glances a constant reminder of my unwelcomed presence.

As usual they give me all the rude clients to serve, shouting insults at me, most of them, words that i don't even understand the meaning of.

I watch as i tell the baker an order and watch them do it wrong on purpose, but i never say anything...maybe they will like me more if i take the blame for them.

I balance the tray filled will coffee cups in one hand and as I'm about to turn around a foot is suddenly placed into my way and i trip over it, thankfully not falling but, every single tea cup that was on that tray is now on the floor broken and shattered and all i can hear is the laughter and whispers of my co-workers.

❀❀❀❀❀❀

All of my clients and rude...all except one, he never is.
The huge muscular guy that sits in the corner of the café where there is less light, he is always here, every day, all the time.

But i never payed much mind to him, he never spoke, only pointed to the same meal 5 times in a row till i stopped asking him what he wants and just gave the chef his order the second i saw him walk in.

He's here today, as he always is.

A black hoodie on, his huge muscles fighting against it, black cargo pants, his dark hair covering the top half of his face and half if a black ski mask covering the bottom half of it.

I walk over to him, pulling out my notepad, "Hi, what can i get you today?" I ask him, a smile forming on my face as i notice all his attention is on me. Once again as expected he points to the same thing, panckes with chocolate chips, i glance at him and i slightly bite my bottom lip.

"Are you sure?"

I ask him and he tilts his head to the side, his long fluffy dark hair brushing over his shoulder.

I let out a light, breathy giggle as i look at him and i walk around the table so i'm standing next to him and i point towards something else on the menue

"how about you try this? Honey crispy chicken is sticky rice and a side of sweet potatoes"

I look at him hopefully, a light smile on my face.