The Struggle •Unedited•

Chapter 1

My wrist watch read '9:45 am' as I walked down the street to the coffee shop I stopped at regularly, everyday before my shift at work. Only today, I was on foot because my stupid car didn't want to start. This day started off pretty shitty if you ask me. With my hands shoved in my pockets, my feet pattered on the cold gravel ground as I continued to make my way. It was freezing and the snow condition had just got worse since last night. The temperature was so freezing that even my breath was visible. Finally, I had reached my destination. I stepped inside the warm coffee shop, that didn't' really seem to have name. It literally was just some small, corner of the block building with no sign recalling it being a café. If it did have a sign, it must have broken down or washed off the door/window.

I removed my cold hands from my pockets and raised them to my mouth as I huffed my breath on them to warm them. The line at the brista was pretty lengthy, so I figured I'd be here a while. What seemed to feel like seconds, I looked over my shoulder to see that the line has grew a few feet. Oh wow. Turning my attention back to the front, the line decreased a tad more every time the brista took a order. Feeling the beanie that laid on my head slipping off, I quickly grabbed a hold of it and snugged it down further on my mess of a hair.

"...and he basically left me stranded on the side of the highway. It was ridiculous!", a female who sounded like she was in high school, shouted behind me.

My head jerked slightly back as a strange expression took over my face. Discreetly looking over my shoulder, the female voice belonged to a girl engaging in conversation on her cell phone. Her hair shined in a silky, black reflection as it fell in a wavy, yet straight formation and she was dressed in a black pantsuit.

She laughed quietly, "Yeah...I'd hit that again..."

A look of disgust overtook my face as I removed my eyes from her and focused my attention back to the front of the line. Get some self-respect, will ya? Women these days - it's disgusting!

"...with my car.", she finished and bursts out in a small fit of laughter.

The feeling of disgust diminished and it was overpowered by amusement. I chuckled slightly to myself and brushed off her weird comment on some poor lad who was unaware of his gossip. Finally, I'm at the barista and I begin to place my order to a young teen worker who is chewing her gum obnoxiously.

"Uhhh, I'd like just a regular coffee - real cream and 5 packs of sugar. Make it a large."

She rolls her eyes and grabs a cup as she scribbles my order on the side of it. "Name?", she asks as her gum chewing seems to be getting louder.

I sigh in annoyance. "Louis.", I say with a fake smile. She caught on to it and her eyes rolled once more. My patience is being tested and it is obviously giving out. The stupid girl dabbed some keys on the cash register and looked up at me with a death glare.

"4.67.", she said as her gum popped under her tongue.

I dug my hand into my back pocket and pulled out my wallet. When I pried it open, it was empty. My stomach dropped. I flipped and turned it as if I was expecting money to fall out, it was useless. I could've sworn I had five dollars yesterday. Dammit, that's right. I gave my last bill to Mason for a school fair. I forgot about my wallet and began to scavenge my front pockets, finding nothing but lose pennies and a few nickles. This is embarrassing! I looked up at the brista who had an amused smirk on her face as she stood there waiting for me to pay her. She was definitely finding humor in my hunt for cash and I was fighting the urge to curse her out.

Letting out a sigh, I finally spoke, "I don't have enough."

"Hey, Lacey...I'll call you back.", the female behind me spoke out. I had no idea why I was still zoned into her conversation.

"Well, what do you want me to do about it?", the brat behind the counter spat out in attitude.

I'm not even bothering to sass her back, this is too humiliating. "Just drop the ord-", I began.

"Add a large vanilla cappuccino - decaf, extra whip on top, hold the chocolate drizzle.", the familiar voice spoke as she moved her way beside me.

Startled by her sudden communication, I turn to face her. What is she doing?

"In the same order?", the barista ask raising her hideous penciled eyebrow. "Yes.", the business looking woman beside me confirmed.

The "lovely" teenager rolled her eyes for what seemed like the millionth time and pressed her scrawny finger on the keys of the register again. "That'll be 9.37.", she muttered flatly.

She's paying for my coffee! Quickly, I protested, "No, No. I can't let you do that!"

"It's fine...I got it. Really, it's no big deal.", she assured me with a calm tone and a small smile.

Her smile was warming and for some reason, I couldn't say no. "Thank you so much.", I praised her. She handed the brista what seemed to be a credit card and the transaction was completed fast. The kind woman stepped off to the side and I followed right behind her. I've never been so embarrassed in my life. As I stood at the peak of the line and realized I didn't have the money to pay for a simple cup of coffee, I began to feel many eyes lay on me. My heart raced and I was beginning to panic, until I just had to call off the order. Thankfully, the lovely girl offered her kind gesture. We stood by the door as we waited for our beverages to be competed. The place was packed and where we were standing seemed to be the only available option. The cold air hit our sides as many people walked in thorugh the door and added more to the growing line at the brista.

"Thank you, again. It means so much. You saved me from social embarrassment.", I pointed out as my cheeks began to warm. She laughed softly at my attempt to thank her for the second time.

"AGAIN", she mocks playfully, ",it's no big deal."

"You know, if you want regular coffee, I would recommend buying a coffee pot, canister coffee, sugar and some milk because that is way cheaper than buying an overly priced cup here.", she adds informatively.

Now that I think about it, she has really good point. Me, out of all people, is spending a ton every week for a cup of coffee on which I could be spending it on paying bills or on my son. "You're right.", I agree with a flat tone. How could I be so clueless?

"Lewis!", another brista shouts.

I grumble under my breath at his mispronunciation of my name. This always happens! "It's Louis.", I say where no one can hear me. The business woman and I make our way over to the counter and retrieve our drinks. I gently blow on mine to cool the steaming liquid before I take a sip.

"Well, I guess, I better be going.", she says as she slips on some gloves right before she grabs her own cup.

I move my cup away from my oral air, "Oh okay. Nice meeting you. Thanks for the rescue.", I shout to her as she makes her way towards the door.

She looks over her shoulder back at me and smiles, "No problem. See you around!", she replies. In seconds, she's out the door into the cold air.

Minutes later, my coffee cools down and I take a look at my wrist watch again. "10:37 a.m" Oh boy, I only have 23 minutes to get to the store and it's still several blocks away. As fast as I can, I head out the door. The freezing air attacks my face and catches me off guard which causes me to shutter. Recognizing where I am again, I resume my regular route and began my journey to my shift at a popular convenience store.