The Shadow

CHAPTER 1: Home

Coffee. A good cup of warm coffee would be delightful now. I thought as the train stopped.
It was early morning by the time I got to my destination.
The train journey was uncomfortable and well... Not very spacious. Being crammed between two people really puts you off trains.
When I finally got off the train from London, all my frustrations just washed away, like a little stone being washed of the beach by a wave. My lungs were filled with the morning air, I couldn't ask for anything better. Well... Maybe coffee, but that's another thing.
The smell of crisp morning air always made me happy. No matter what sittuation I was in or how tired I was.
The same way no sight was better than the sky at 5am during summer in Sunrise Town.
The first rays of Sun hit my face. It was so warm. I closed my eyes and stood there for a while. I took a deep breath, opened my eyes and decided that it was time for that damn coffee.
Michael Angelo's Café was my favourite place (among many others) to visit as a teen. They had the best apple pie in the whole of Britain, though my grandmother always said they had better apples up the north where she lived. I can't say anything as I never ate any.
Slowly enjoying the walk I stroll over to the Café. Unsure if it was open or not, I try the handle.
Locked.
"Damnit", I say under my breath.
I looked around and there was no soul to be seen.
"Well, we got to try..." And with that I knocked on the door.
"Angie!" I say "Angie! It's me, Natalie!" I knock again.
No answer.
"Hmm... It's time to go then..." I sigh.
Taking one last look at Michael Angelo's Café, I saw the handle move and Angie was standing in the doorway.
"Nat?" He asks, his eyes widened.
"Angie!" I say delighted and run over to hug him. His beard seemed longer, but his head was bald.
"You changed so much," Angie exclaimed.
"Well yes, hell, you changed too, I thought you were gonna get stuck in that doorway." I laughed.
"Ha, ha, ha," Angie laughed sarcastically. "But yeah, you're right. What can I say, I love those Apple pies so goddamned much." He laughed and grabbed his belly.
"You are perfect Angie, now you even look like that cook from TV you always talked about! And I bet you cook twice as good as him." I stated.
"You are always so kind," Angie said and wrapped his hands around me, he was he best hug-giver and cry-shoulder I ever knew.
"Okay, okay... You're squishing me- I can't breath!!" I murmured as loud as I could.
"Sorry Nat... Hey give me that and come inside, you must be tired." He said and took my bag.
We walked inside, and closed the door accompanied by a bell. It was so special. Every bit of this restaurant was like re-living my teenage years again. The smell of bread baking in the back, or the chocolate cake coming out of the oven, or the Apple pie... Mmm.... The Apple pie was the best.
"Here sit down. Coffee?" Angie asked while holding up the glass coffee pot.
"God yes, it's all I've been thinking about since I got off the train. Some hot coffee and the glorious apple pie," I said and closed my eyes remembering the sweet taste.
"Well lucky you, I just took it out of the oven less then 20 minute ago." Angie said and placed a mug of steaming coffee infront of me.
"Yay!" I say childishly and he walked around the back to grab a piece.
I took the time when he was gone to look around the Café.
Nothing has changed. The same old red couches with the silver tables between each pair, and the same bar table with the red bar chairs and...
"Oh my God..." I thought to myself.
"It can't be," I stood up and walked over to the wall. There stood the exact same music box that my family got Angelo, over 20 years ago.
I stood there for a while amazed at what I saw, until Angelo dropped something, the noise taking me back to reality. I dug into my pockets, searching for that one thing, a small triumph when I got hold of it and put it into the machine. With just a few clicks the café was filled with the amazing sound of classic rock.
"Here's your pie," angie said. "I see you got that thing working. You used to be obsessed with it." He said.
I smiled and sat down taking a long sip of coffee, God its been so long.
The shop didn't open for a other hour or so, which left me and Angelo a good while to chat.
After a tasty breakfast, I finnally decided to say goodbye to Angelo.
"So where are you gonna stay?" Angie asked.
"At her place." I said
"Oh Her..." He said
"Yeah,"
"She will be delighted to see you again." He said
"Yeah... Well... Thanks for the coffee and the pie, see Ya 'round," I say and place money on the counter, I walk out of the Café accompanied by the bell.