Lover

'Privileged'

I take a sip of my drink and await my sister's arrival. It's been about 20 minutes since we spoke but I don't think she'll be coming to fetch me any time soon.

As I take another sip of my chocochino, my eyes roam to a huge group of people on the far right of the street. Male, female, children, photographers, all with their cameras on, taking pictures of whatever's entertaining them. I'm not really sure what all the commotion is about.

I glance back over to the lady across the street. It's shocking seeing someone live so poor. Almost makes me feel guilty from being so 'privileged'.

I feel my phone buzz, I have a new message. It's from my sister saying she'll be there in the next half an hour.

"Can I have another coffee please? To go?" I enquire and the waitress takes down the order in her little notepad, giving me a quick nod as well.

______________________________________________

The waitress finally comes back with the coffee I ordered and the bill. I pay up, wake up, pick up both drinks and walk out through the clear glass door.
I dash across the road, careful enough not to spill the hot beverages, trying my best not to get soaked in the rain again. I head towards the old lady and offer her a cautious but warm smile. She smiles back at me and I take this as permission to start a conversation.

"Hi there"
-"Hello"
"Pretty cold, huh?" I say, then mentally slap myself. OBVIOUSLY ITS COLD! ITS FREAKING FREEZING!
She nods, returning her attention back to her soaked up blanket.

As I was about to start speaking again, some random guy bumps into me, luckily my drinks didn't spill.
"Hey! Watch it, would you?"
-"Sorry, didn't see where I was going." He simply says as he keeps his head hung low, preoccupied with the person on the opposite end of the phone call he is on, but his voice is kinda apologetic. He leans up against the wall, a few feet away.

I eavesdrop a bit at the guy's conversation. "Tell Harry to stop worrying. ... yes, I'll be back when the rain slows a bit ..."

I return my attention back to the woman.

"This is for you." I hand her the coffee.
Her face lights up a bit as she accepts it, making me feel proud of my decision.
-"Thank you, miss. God bless." She gives appreciative nod, and she lets out a shiver.

Guilt washes over me as I take in her appearance again. Now that I have a closer look, I notice the expected 'white' around her brown eyes are being dominated by red.
She sips on the coffee and lets out another shiver.

"Here." I hold out my jacket.
She looks at me as if I'm insane. My assumption was confirmed when she replied in a thick British accent:
-"You Must be crazy! It's freezing and I have a blanket already. Keep it, love. It's cold."
But she needs it more.
"Take it. I insist. Besides, I don't even need it. I-I like the cold." I lie, feeling the cold entirely consume me. She hesitates. Putting out her hand, fast, ready to grab the jackets and pulling it away just as fast, hesitating. However, she eventually takes the jacket.
"Thank you, my child. May God shower you with mercy and bless you beyond compare." She says, her voice cracking up a bit and her eyes tearing up. I give her another smile and then walk away.