Another First Love

s i x

               The sun was slowly sinking down, but the moon was slowly rising. Street lights shone pale along the busy road; at the far corner, a traffic light blinked to a flashing red-figure. The traffic light turned green for pedestrians and they crossed the street in a busy crowd.

               I have turned three years older at the beginning of the warm March. I walked the same path, pretty much every day, along with the same pavements from my house and around a large block to get to the coffee shop. It would be in this place I would know if the longing and hope still exist in me.

               Sweet Aroma Coffee Shop. People from all over Chicago came to my very own coffee shop expecting no more than a warm drink. It felt absolutely amazing to connect with all these people who were from every walk of life. Many things get in their way and I met her for the first time in this coffee shop. Meeting someone in a coffee shop is so cliché.

               "Have a nice day, boss." She smiled up at me as she puts on her coat. Emma, one of my workers who has been working in this coffee shop for many years now. The doorbell rang as she waved goodbye at the door. The scene from her position was peaceful and serene.

               It was like any other day, I flipped the sign to show our coffee shop was close. I looked around the empty coffee shop and walked up to the counter for a cup of coffee. There were plenty of doughnuts, corn, and chips to eat which also meant there was plenty leftover. I snapped my head around at the sound of the thunder causing me to spill the coffee all over the counter.

               "Shit!" I cursed slightly, catching the dish towel and cleaned up the spilt counter and wiping down the coffee steamer.

               Another lance of lightning shattered across the sky followed by a loud clap of thunder that rumbled its way across the city. Huddling the cup full of coffee within my hands, I sipped its contents as I made my way to the table by the window where I could see the building across the street.

               The rain was coming down hard at this point with massive thunder booms in the skies. I then took a big sip, leaving the cup about half full and placed it on the table. The night is getting late and the rain poured more heavy. I was about to take my last sip of coffee when I felt something vibrating in my pocket and I slid my hand into my pocket to take out my phone before answering the phone call.

               "Peter? Where are you? You're still at the coffee shop, aren't you?" I smiled as I heard the same concerned voice and I know it was Mom's.

               "Yeah, I'm still here," I said in a soft voice. "Don't worry mom, I'll be home once the rain stop."

               "Are you sure," she continued, after a short pause, "but it's getting late now." Mom was worried, I could tell with doubt in her voice.

               I knew she was going to find the next sentence bizarre so I mumbled, "I'll be fine, mom. I just need some time alone." I looked out the window and prayed that the rain stays heavy, it was, for now, the only friend that I have in this empty world of mine.

               I thought I detected a note of relief in her voice when she made her last words, "okay then. Take care, my dear."

               "Okay, mom. See you later," I replied, pressing the end call and putting my phone on the table.

               This late night made me miss someone special; I missed our late night and early morning talks and kisses. I missed how she would ask me how my day was. I missed our late night conversations that would last until morning; leaving me tired and sleepy while working at the coffee shop. I missed my wife, Emily.

              All of a sudden my thoughts turned back to the glaring truth. I picked up the half-empty cup of coffee and went to the sink to wash. Just as I was turning off the lights of the coffee shop, my head snapped up as I heard the doorbell of the coffee shop rang and revealed a woman in the middle of the darkness.

              I was shocked because I couldn't see her face or any details, just a black figure of a woman. She was too busy wiping her belonging from getting wet and didn't dare to let her gaze wander down at me.

               When I didn't say anything right away, annoyance settled in. I turned the lights back on and filled the silence. "Hello?"

               She stared at me for a moment when I was getting close to her. Her hair was plastered to her face, and impatiently she pushed it out of her eyes. Her eyes clung helplessly to me as she continued to tuck her wet hair behind her ears.

                We both looked at each other and my eyes widen in surprise when it was her standing before me. The more I was closing by, the clearer I could see her. Her hair wasn't the only thing to change colour; the way she stared at me also changed. My body wouldn't respond and she was giving me a weird look. I could see her better now. I could feel tears brimming in my eyes, threatening to spill at any minute. I took my place in front of her without saying anything but the only meaningful word to me.

              "Emily."