The Comfort of Coffee
The clinking of door chimes alerted Pacey while he prepared to close shop. He scanned the room and noticed a woman heading straight for the corner table. A quick scan of her attire—a v-neck blouse atop a knee-length skirt, with matching shoes and belt—joggled his memory. She was Eliza, once a regular customer who had suddenly stopped coming for her 9:30 a.m. coffee.
Pacey couldn't take his eyes of Eliza. He had given up believing he would see her again, but now here she was. Just when I was beginning to sleep better, he thought. He took a deep breath, fixed himself up a little, and trudged to where she sat. He casually made his way beside her, and for several seconds he held her in his eyes. But what he saw gripped his heart, making him shiver past the warmth of brewing coffee all around.
Eliza no longer resembled the girl whose smile completed his day. Now she was like a broken china doll: frail, inanimate, with a hideous greenish-black bruise around her left eye.
A catchy tune shook Pacey from his daze. Eliza apparently heard the melody too, and was now rummaging through her bag for something. With a sigh, she pulled out a ringing mobile phone. Pacey thought of stepping back a few steps for he didn't want to be caught snooping. But just then she answered the phone and began to cry.
Pacey watched as the young woman murmured in between sobs. Her right hand was relentlessly abusing the diamond on her left ring finger. Both her hands were trembling.
Seeing the sad state Eliza was in, Pacey longed to touch her, to hug her, to ease her pain. And he was about to do all of those things when he heard her voice. "I'm in the coffee shop around the corner," she said before turning her phone off.
She then turned her head to where he stood and met his eyes. Pacey quickly composed himself, retracting his furrowed eyebrows and piercing gaze. She looked away so that he now only saw her shoulder-length hair.
"What would you like to order ma'am?" Pacey struggled to ask. "Um, I, uh, what do I usually take?" Eliza asked more to herself. "Mocha Frapuccino with cream and sugar." "Oh, ok, you remember. Yes, I'll have that." "I'll be right back."
He hurried to the counter and took out the cup he always reserved for Eliza. He took his time, concocting the best Mocha Frapuccino possible. Coffee cup in hand, he made his way back, but she was already heading for the front door. He quickened his pace. "Wait!"
But too late, she was out the door. Pacey saw a tall shadow slowly embrace Eliza. For a moment he thought he saw her reaching out to him, mouthing words. But he could only watch as she faded into the night.