Return to Me

Five

"Coming up next is another episode of Castle." says some announcer on the TV, and I debate on turning it off and finding something else to do.

It's been a week since I lost my job, and in that time, I haven't found any places that were hiring and have slowly been sinking into a black hole of depression.

Sadly, I've been sitting on the couch for the past three hours watching re-runs of Castle, and stuffing my face with mainly popcorn.

God, I'm so pathetic. I think to myself as I continue to stare aimlessly at the TV waiting for another episode to start. I must find something better to do with my time. I have bills to pay and sitting on this damn couch isn't going pay them. Lazily, I reach for the remote and finally turn off the TV. The silence is somewhat comforting.

Glancing down at my phone, I see that it's 2:30pm. Sam will be done with work soon and the thought of texting him runs through my mind. We could go out to dinner and spend the night together. Hmm, sound intriguing and a wicked smile appears on my face. I decide to shoot him a text.

ME: Hey, honey. Want to do dinner tonight?

I press send and wait for him to respond, but in the meantime, I bring myself off from the couch and decide to head over to the cafe. Of course, I can't really afford to buy coffee there anymore until I find a job, but that's not going to stop me from going to see my friend...and possibly beg for a job...again.

Liz turned me down for a job a few days ago, which I might add I was pretty upset by, telling me that she wasn't hiring at the time. Hell, it's seems that's all I've heard from people when I asked for an application, hence the reason I've been slipping into this black hole.

Deciding to listen to music on my walk over to the cafe, I put in my ear buds and search through my phone's playlist for something to listen to. I decide on It's Alright by Huey Lewis and the News. It seems like the perfect song to help lift my spirits, plus I like a lot of older music. The stuff the music business makes today, isn't as good as the stuff back then which makes it hard to keep my interest--the saying: oldies but goodies couldn't be more true.

My phone vibrates just before I round the corner to the cafe. It's a text from Sam.

SAM: Hey babe, sorry can't do dinner tonight. Stuck at the office. Rain-check tomorrow night? 

ME: Okay, text me the details tomorrow. <3

SAM: Will do. Love you <3

ME: Love you too.

I stuff my phone back into my pocket, deciding to shut off my music since the cafe isn't too far.

When I arrive at the cafe, it's busier than ever. People were everywhere and there was a line slowly making its way out the door. What's going on? Since when is the cafe this busy?

Looking around the heads of people, I search for Liz. Through the back door window, I see her frantically talking on the phone, waving her hand throughout the air. People were getting restless and up at the counter, I see Liz's nine-year-old daughter, Madeline, trying to calm the mass of people. I can see that by the look on her face, that she wants to help take orders, but knows her mother would not approve.

I bite my bottom lip and debate on an idea that just popped into my head. By the looks of it, Liz won't be getting off the phone anytime soon, and she's going to lose a lot of business if no one starts helping these customers very soon.

"Oh, what the hell." I mutter to myself as I push my way through the crowd and toward the front counter. By the time I get up there I've already removed my jacket, and tossed it over by Madeline, who smiles happily up at me and hugs it to her chest.