A Cup of Coffee

c h a p t e r 1 4

Elizabeth

It's been a couple days since my exchange with Adam, I already cried to my heart's content and Monday was luckily an off day for me. There were no classes but that meant that my Tuesdays were packed with classes back to back and I only get to leave the campus in the evening. Graduating seems so far yet so near and I can't believe going to school is almost over.

After Mr. Reed dismissed us, I kept all my assignments and laptop into my backpack. Usually I'm the first one to leave the class but Mr. Reed asked me to stay back.

"Ms. Andrews, I would like to talk about that essay you wrote last week." He took out his file and flipped through, then pulled out a few sheets of paper. He handed it to me and my familiar handwriting filled the pages.

"I would like to help you out and recommend you at one of my colleague's company before your graduation. You've been giving me consistent, better than average essays and I see a lot of potential in you. It's in New York though but I think this would be a great stepping stone for your career,"

"Are you serious?"

"I don't think I joke around," he stared at me, his tone serious. That's true, I never see him smile.

"That's true. I would really appreciate it and is there anything else I need to do?"

"At the moment no, but just expect me to give you extra assignments from time to time. Here are some of the requirements so you can prepare and compile you portfolio" He handed me an envelope that was sealed and I clutched it to my chest

"Okay thank you, it really means a lot to me,"

"Like I said, you have a lot of potential," I smiled at him and he nodded towards the door, gesturing for me to leave. After thanking him again, I left the classroom and headed to the coffee shop without thinking. Phoebe was one of the few people who encouraged me to follow through with the writing career in my freshman year of college. I needed to let her know about this.

Without thinking I opened the door and I was hit with the familiar aroma of coffee beans and brownies. As I walked in, I collided with a man, holding a tray. The coffee in the cups spilled all over my blouse and caused my bra to show through the thin material. I looked up to see Adam looking down at me with a mortified look plastered on his face, he was just collecting the cups from the empty tables.  

"It's fine," I said abruptly, covering my chest with my folded arms, not bothering to hear his apology. I know he waited outside my door last Saturday but I didn't bother to open it because he didn't even knock.

I pushed past him, pissed that my entire blouse was soaking wet but I needed Phoebe to know. It was near closing time so I wasn't worried about flashing anyone. Phoebe smiled widely at me and I began to tell her about the good news.

"I knew you could do it!"

"I really owe this to you for pushing me to go through with it. Thank you Phoebe," I hugged her tightly and she didn't care that I was soaking wet. She just held me and when she let go, her eyes were watery.

"I'm so happy for you, you've been through a lot and after Ellie passed, you were looking for reasons to live and I was scared you were going to follow her," I wanted to cry with her. I wanted to take my life after Ellie did but I knew she would have wanted me to live my life. Phoebe held me for another moment before we said our goodbyes and I headed out of the coffee shop, ignoring Adam completely.

I texted my mom, my dad and Carlos while I waited for Katie to come home. She had classes till eight in the evening so usually she eats out for dinner. Which meant I eat dinner alone on the weekdays. After rummaging the freezer for some time, I found a frozen pizza at the back compartment. It was cheese with basil leaves. I didn't feel like cooking dinner tonight so this was the best option. I popped it into the oven and headed to my dresser to get some fresh clothes. After a quick shower, I sat down on the sofa by the front door. Usually I would do some school work or clean around but I just wasn't in the mood. So I sat around, waiting for my pizza to heat up in the oven while I scrolled through my tumblr feed.

Adam

"Gramm, what's wrong?" Phoebe just clutched the counter as she stood there for a solid minute. We just got back from the coffee shop and she was making herself a cup of tea in the kitchen.

"Nothing dearie, just in a little bit of pain. That's all,"

"Gramm," I stood up from the sofa and headed to the small kitchen.

"I'll ask for help when I need it. No need to worry my love," I tried to fight the urge to recommend treatment. Surgery wasn't an option anymore because the cancer cells already spread to other organs by Stage 3C. I was sure that chemotherapy was not an option because Phoebe's body was too weak to be able to recover from that. I've been researching before coming to visit her about hormone therapy because I read many articles about women being able to live beyond the said survival rate because of treatment.

However, I can't let her know that I was aware because it would break her heart that I only decided to visit her because of that particular reason and plus, she simply wasn't ready. Why would I spend over a month in this small town when I can be in my apartment in New York and finish up school? Aside from needing closure after family members' deaths, I wanted to get to know her again and I felt so terrible that she was sick. Of course I was still going to see her. She and I got closer the past three weeks. I love Phoebe, as hard as it was to tell that to her. She still is my grandmother. 

"You're starting to worry me," I mumbled, hoping she wouldn't hear. But as usual, she still can hear everything even from miles away.

"I'm sorry dearie." Her face softened and she composed herself before moving towards me, "I'll tell you everything eventually, I just don't want to ruin the good times we have. Remember you only have three week left with me, I want to spend time with you as much as possible. "

I smiled and gave her a hug. I understood where she was coming from and I'm glad that she will eventually tell me on her own time. After working at the coffee shop, she takes me to meet her friends at the Community Centre and bring me around town to try out different food. We spend night times watching movies from when she was a younger lady - that's how she referred to herself - and she usually watches half of the movie before heading off to her bedroom. The past two weeks with her really hurts me because I could have had more time with her and I hated the decisions I made in the past.

After an hour of revision, with the television playing in the background, I decided it was time to get some rest. It was already Friday, time was passing by so quickly because of how busy everyday is. I'm just glad that I'm really getting to know the different Phoebe. As I fell asleep, I dreamt of Elizabeth again. I dream of her every night.

I could feel her in my arms as I bury my nose in her hair and I could smell her. I want to stay like this forever. It doesn't feel like a dream. She's here with me... but the dream always ended the same way. She always leave. She leaves me like what my mother did. And I remember feeling my heart breaking again and again.

A/N: Hello!! This is a filler chapter just so I can move on with the story without it moving too fast. Please comment and vote. It means the world to me 💖