Love. Four letters, one syllable. A tiny, simple word. Yet it is somehow more important than every other word in the dictionary. Why? Is it good? Is it impossible to live without? The answers fall into the abyss, undiscovered in the madness of humanity.
I'd like to say she flew into my life like a hurricane, but too much embellishment on this story would make it entirely unbelievable. She didn't burst through the doors of my cafe as if running for her life; she walked, calmly and with her head down. We were busy that day. I like to tell people that I noticed her right away, instantly wanting to get to know her. Truthfully, I just barely acknowledged her enough to pour her a cup of coffee and hand her a menu. It wasn't until almost an hour later, when my second waitress showed up that I could take a look at the girl who would change my life.
She looked fine, I suppose, especially knowing what I know now. She had polished off five cups of coffee, though considering the Dixie cups people insisted I use, that wasn't saying much. I placed one of the soup bowl sized mugs I kept on hand for myself in front of her.
"Do you want something to eat? Or do you also possess the power to survive entirely on caffeine?" My words seemed to shock her out of a very deep train of thought. She lifted her head to look me in the eyes. Those eyes. They were incredible. Almost black, they didn't show her entire life story like most people's did. No, they simply looked as if they had seen more than they ever wanted to and cared to remember.
"Oh, I'll just stick to the universe's greatest creation, thanks."
"Alright, let me know if you change your mind." She didn't and I didn't even see her pay her bill and leave.
She came in everyday of a week before I learned her name. She always just sat and drank cup after cup of coffee, which prompted the line cooks into proclaiming she was an alien, for no human life form could consume that much caffeine without having a cardiac incident. They went on about how her name was probably Kwwakl or Bjlik or something else with too many syllables and awkwardly placed vowels. I had to step in.
"Alright, you have to settle a bet for me" I said, refilling her mug.
"What's that?" she didn't lift her head at all. I hadn't seen her eyes since that first day.
"What's your name? Please tell me it's not Kwlwakli or something crazy like that. I have to do Stevie's clean up for a week if he proves that you aren't human."
"What?" There they were. True surprise ran through her eyes at my seemingly insane comment. I smiled and attempted to explain.
"See they guys," I pointed to the pick-up window to indicate who I was talking about, "seem to think you are from another planet. Apparently the amount of caffeine you intake each day is impossible for a being from this Earth. "
"Ah." I could tell she didn't really understand but she went with it "My name is Leah. Normal, common even. Not a space alien."
"Ha, I win. Thank you. I don't have to clean the front of house at the end of the night for a week. Sweet."
"What about you? Do I get to know the name of the wonderful coffee bearer or should I just keep referring to you as God?"
"Mel. Melanie actually, but only my mother calls me that. God works to though. I am known to be worshiped early enough in the morning."
Just then the bell signaling customers rang, allowing thirty teenagers impatiently seeking things that would shorten their lifespans to crush our conversation. She paid her bill and left before I could get back to her.
She didn't show up the next day. I shouldn't have noticed. It wasn't like she was a true regular. Still, not having to brew a new pot of coffee every five minutes reminded me of her absence. I was about to lock up for the night when she showed.
"Are you closing? I come back in the morning then." She was standing at the bottom of the stairs, about to turn to leave.
"Don't worry about it. Get in here before you freeze."
She sat down in one of the booths while I brought her coffee. Stevie had started begrudgingly cleaning the front of house area, so I sat down across from her.
"So, you're here late today. Big day on the town?"
"Hmm..." she swallowed her mouthful of coffee to answer me. "No, not really. Fruitless job hunting. I just moved here, still trying to get my bearings."
"Well, on the work front, Toronto isn't exactly the best place to be right now. Not seeing as much hurt as some places in the States but it's not Pleasantville either."
"Please, I was in Detroit before here. Nothing can be worse than that."
"You're American?" I was genuinely surprised by this revelation. "I pegged you as some who grew up on one of the Native reservations up in Northern Ontario."
"That's close, sort of. I grew up on a reserve in Washington State, about three hours outside Seattle."
"Long way from here. Away or to?"
"Pardon?" My vague question lit a spark in Leah's eyes. I could tell she knew what I meant, but was playing dumb.
"Are you running away from something or towards something? No one gets this far away from home without a cause."
"Oh... um, both I suppose." She hardened her eyes, daring me to ask for more details. I decide to change the subject.
"So if you're looking for work, one of my waitresses quit today. That is if you think you can hack serving breakfast to rude business people every day."
"Really? Are you sure? I mean I don't want a pity job or anything." Joy was tinged with suspicion on her face. She obviously wasn't accustomed to kindness from strangers.
"Not at all. Katie, you know, the peppy blond one, is heading back to Ottawa for school. Poor thing's going to freeze to death up there but whatever. So if you're interested and can handle the occasional ass-grab from a trucker..."
"Sure, I'd love to. And trust me, once I break one guy's arm, the rest will learn dam quick."
"You'd think so but it never really works that way." I laughed. We kept talking for almost an hour. I related some of my horror stories of working in food service and she almost laughed a few times. As she was leaving, after assuring me she would be back bright and early to start work, only one thought was going through my head. Oh, boy. I'm in trouble.
A/N: For the first time I am attempting to post a story that is more than a one shot. I am a meticulous editor and prefer to have entire chapters mapped out in my head before I even put pen to paper, so I can't promise the fastest updates in the world. That being said I hope you enjoy the fruits of my twisted imagination. Review if you'd like, but I'm not going to beg.
Disclaimer: The above is a work of fiction. All recognizable characters are the property of their respective copyright owners. Any and all similarities to real life people and events are purely coincidental.