Shifting Currents || E.V.

oo. preface (rewritten)

college students going to café to study was a cliché decision that i'd normally scoff at - but this time it was me who was hunched over my textbooks at a small, dirty table, while the strong aroma of coffee gave me a headache. my classes had been boring, and my homework load was heavy, but for some reason i had convinced myself that leaving my dorm would motivate me to get everything done.

i was incorrect.

i tugged the scrunchie from my hair and rewound it into a tight bun at the top of my head, pushing my bangs from my eyes to once again attempt to focus. my cheek was rested against my palm, which was covered by the sleeve of my mustard-yellow sweater, and one of my Doc Martens had come untied on my foot. i huffed, blowing the hairs gently off my forehead.

my distracted gaze left the black-and-white pages of my book for the millionth time that evening, and my eyes scanned the room for any sight a bit more interesting than my schoolwork. people-watching was fun, and seemed to be something i was impolitely unable to refrain from doing.

i watched the barista hand oversized mugs of coffee to her customers, i stared at young teenage couples doubling over in laughter as they sat side-by-side on a broken-down couch, and i observed adults just like me, frantically leafing through papers and notebooks, desperately trying to interest themselves in their education.

aside from all of the things i'd already witnessed multiple times from where i was seated, there was one person who suddenly caught my eye a bit longer than anyone else had.

a young man was sat at a table by himself, a composition notebook open in front of him. he was writing, his brows furrowed, and his expression frustrated, but he didn't stop scratching away at the paper with his pen.

he had a black baseball cap backwards on top of his head, and he was wearing a flannel that looked old, worn out, and very comfortable. i squinted to try and read his facial expression a little better, but he was still looking down at his papers, and i couldn't very well see him.

i was nosy, and wondered what he was writing.

i was brought back to reality when a woman, coming from the direction of the restrooms, approached him. she stood beside the table, and he looked up at her fondly, before gathering his things and standing to join her.

his eyes met mine, crinkling up as he smirked at me, but i suddenly felt rude and turned away, avoiding his gaze until he'd made his way out of the front door.

i glanced back to his now-empty table, and raised my eyebrow when i noticed he'd left a folded piece of paper on the floor beside the chair he'd sat in.

i hesitantly stood up, shoving my books into my backpack before wandering to the vacant table. i bent down, grabbing the piece of paper before anyone could see me, and quickly left the busy coffee shop shortly after the two strangers had.

walking the path back to my dorm, i unfolded the paper carefully and eagerly.

in all capital letters, it appeared to be a poem.

i shook my head, rolling my eyes at myself as further thought convinced me he looked like he could be a member of a band, and that these were lyrics.

breathing out the lyrics in a whisper so no one but i could hear, i read them to myself softly.

"hold on to the thread, the currents will shift -"

// REWRITTEN, BABY!!