If anyone were to ask Noah to describe coffee in one word he'd call it sexy. Noah believed coffee had a way of wrapping its warm aromas around a person like a strong pair of arms.

Coffee was his best friend.

He loved to bring the steaming mug to his face and inhale deeply; exhaling only as he took a sip. He revelled in the intensity and experimented with the flavour; tingling as the welcomed liquid slipped down his throat.

It was the only time he felt calm and warm.

Noah prided himself as much on his coffee making abilities as he did on his talent for directing. He always purchased the best brands and knew just how coarse to grind the beans. To Noah, how you brewed the coffee was just as important as where you sourced the quality.

But there were always the odd mornings when things went wrong. He called these 'April fool' days. And he always knew when he was in for one of them because, no matter how hard he tried, the coffee bombed and he couldn't get it right.

Today was one of those days. It wasn't just the coffee either. He'd also managed to burn his toast, stain his work shirt and stump his toe. And now, to top it all off, some asshole had taken his reserved parking space, leaving Noah with no option but to park in the guest bays.

He'd make sure the interloper returned to find his car clamped, that was for sure!

"Good morning!" a man greeted happily as they both washed their hands in the restroom sinks.

"Humph!" Noah groaned in response, wondering, as he so often did, why it was that strangers felt the need to talk to him.

"Yeah! I feel ya! It is Monday morning after all!"

With an added chuckle the man departed and Noah glared into his back.

The thing was, unlike most other 'normal' people, Noah usually looked forward to Mondays. He'd get up early and jump start the week by booking as many appointments as he could possibly cram in.

He did it to pull himself out of the inevitable weekend slump. Because when he couldn't fill his Saturdays and Sundays with script reading, location scouts and grocery shopping he was left with nothing but a silent apartment and thoughts best forgotten.

And it was also for the latter reason that later, after his 9am appointment failed to show by 9:15, Noah sat agitated in his office, tapping his fingers on the wooden surface of his desk.

He hated idol time; or rather he hated moments that weren't filled with conversations about screenings, editing, lighting, pitches, marketing and so forth. These were the only thoughts he wanted crossing his mind… ever again.

It was definitely lining up to be an 'April fools' kind of day.

"Damn!" he yelled, thumping his hand down on the desk when after another 10 minutes his guest still failed to show, "Claudette?"

His assistant came running. She knew that tone and he didn't even have to ask.

"One double espresso coming right up!" she assured him from the relative safety of the doorway.

He nodded with a desperate attempt at a smile which she returned sympathetically before leaving to search one out for him. She was a God-send! Why she put up with him was anybody's guess.

It was no accident he was still alone.

Shit!

At that moment his phone rang and he answered it quickly, grateful for the distraction from that thought, "Hello?"

"Hello Mr Wilson?" Scott greeted apologetically and with a hint of fear, "I'm… look sir… I'm really sorry but I'm not going to make it in time for our meeting."

"No shit Einstein!" Noah replied, "You were supposed to be here twenty minutes ago! You know how I hate to be kept waiting!"

"Yeah boss, I know. But I was on the subway and the train wasn't moving. There's no signal down there so I couldn't call..."

"Look I don't give a shit about your excuses! Just make sure it doesn't happen again and have Claudette reschedule." Noah sighed deeply ensuring Scott heard his disdain over the phone.

"Will do." Scott assured him, "I really am sorry."

Noah didn't bother to reply, just slammed down the phone in irritation. Like he had time to waste!

It was during this event that Claudette delivered his coffee. Unfortunately for her it was not to his liking and he spat his first sip out across his desk.

"Fuck! Shit tastes like drain water!"

"What?" She asked in doe-eyed worry, "It's from Ed's. You said you liked the coffee from Ed's!"

"Yeah well today I don't!"

God! Could the day get any worse?

A bright flash of light, loud clap of thunder and the sudden downpour of rain outside his panoramic window assured him it could. The sound made Claudette jump and she followed his gaze outside.

"Great!" he exclaimed, "Just what we needed! Never mind about the coffee Claudette. I've got to sort this."

She nodded and made a hasty retreat as Noah quickly picked up the phone and rang his co-director.

"Hey Noah." Timothy responded, "Guess we won't be filming in the park this afternoon."

"Oh really?" Noah replied sarcastically, "You don't say? I seriously cannot believe this! Damn! I thought you said the weatherman reported sunny conditions."

"Since when is the weatherman ever right?"

"About as many times as you are! Okay, well, I guess we'll have to film the restaurant scene today instead. Can you call the venue? Check they're free?"

Wisely ignoring Noah's quip Timothy sighed and replied, "Sure."

"Great I'll be on set within the hour."

...

After a disastrous afternoon filming on location, Noah returned to the studio for three meetings before deciding to call it a day.

The restaurant chosen for the shoot was not as accommodating with the unexpected change in schedule as Noah would have liked. When he arrived on set it was to an irate owner who refused point blank to cancel the day's lunch bookings unless he was compensated for their loss.

As if the movie wasn't already way over budget!

Noah had his coat on to leave when his boss burst through the office door.

Great!

"Noah!" Jagad Khan smiled forcibly, smooth Indian accent hinting at a new idea, "I am so pleased I caught you."

"Jagad." Noah nodded with much less enthusiasm than his boss. He was well aware that if it wasn't for his skill in the director's chair, Jagad would never have put up with his sour and mostly disrespectful attitude. "What brings you down from the top floor?"

"Well, it is so exciting I had to come and tell you in person!" Jagad smoothed the cuff of his Armani jacket as he spoke, "I've just had a meeting with a very interesting young man and we have been given a very rare opportunity. A privilege really."

"Oh…kay?"

"How are you for time these days?"

"Well," his suspicions raised Noah replied carefully, "as you know I'm really busy on Occupied Spaces and I'm working on that new documentary about ocean fish stocks. Plus I'm trying to get 'Speaker's Corner' up and running."

"Have you had any luck locating a host for that?"

"Not yet. But I will. It's not a problem."

"Well, actually, I'd like to hand all your current responsibilities over to Timothy."

Dammit! He knew the man was up to no good!

"What the hell, Jagad?"

Noah didn't like the way this conversation was headed. He wasn't the sort of person to skip out on a project half-completed. He was particular and liked to make all final decisions. He liked to have the choices. There wasn't a person alive he could trust. Life had taught him that the hard way.

"Yes." Jagad explained, "I'm going to need your full attention on our newest project."

"Jagad, I really don't think-"

Jagad held up his hands, "Noah, I'm afraid this is not up for discussion. You are my best documentary film maker and we have the chance at some real success if we get this right."

Noah sighed, realising he wasn't going to win the argument, "Okay, fine! What's the assignment?"

"Well," Jagad explained, wide and victorious smile crossing his lips, "two years ago a new neurology wing opened up in a small-town hospital very near to Chicago."

Noah's heart fell immediately to his shoes.

"Over that time the hospital has successfully and miraculously restored the eyesight of over 50 patients. Made the blind see, you understand?"

An old yet achingly familiar pain began demanding exit from the cavern in which he'd hidden it years ago. Noah's shoulders squared with the sudden tension; the deep anger taking hold as his teeth ground together.

"This success is down to a world renowned brain surgeon called-"

"Dr. Reid Oliver." Noah spat the name like it tasted of bile.

"Why yes!" Oblivious to Noah's scorn Jagad became even more excited at the thought Noah already knew of the story, "You've heard of him? A remarkable man indeed; a true miracle worker!"

Noah sighed, "I've not only heard of him Jagad. I was one of those patients. The first at that hospital if you want specifics."

"You were?" Jagad's dark eyes widened and brightened at the same time. He was positively salivating, "That is fantastic news! Well of course not that you suffered blindness but I'm sure you understand my excitement… Oh then I was more than right! You are the perfect director for this project. It is like destiny."

"No." Noah replied simply.

At first Jagad didn't hear him, just kept gushing about how brilliant the whole project would be, "…and to think I had one of his patients…" then frowning in realisation he asked, "Sorry, what?"

"I said no." Noah repeated deadpan.

He pushed past Jagad and quickly fled the studio suddenly feeling extremely claustrophobic and desperately in need of fresh air, not to mention caffeine.