NO SUGAR IN MY COFFEE

I love morning cups of coffee. Waking up having a burning hot kiss of Colombian dark roast on my lips. Energizing and warmed up as if I got a good morning text from... well, maybe not her. Either way being in this tranquil environment with the smell of brewing coffee warms me up. Different gossip being exchanged between people as we wait for our lovely orders. The old speakers struggled to play; Baby Come Back by The Players throughout the shop.

The customers coming bring the chilly winter breeze. It is the type of frost that will make you want to take a double shot of espresso. I am always curious to see the new souls that this old coffee shop brings in. I couldn’t believe it was her. The only person in the whole world who orders one thing from every coffee shop.

“Hi, Welcome to Pete’s Coffee shop. What can I get you started with?” asked the cashier in an Indian accent.

She ordered, “I am going to have a black coffee with two cups of cream and a lot of sugar.”

“That will be three dollars,” said the cashier as he opens the cash register.

She pays the sweaty cashier and makes her way to the napkin dispenser.

Her face glowed with a blue glare texting on her phone, probably to her new boyfriend. I noticed that she had cut her hair and dyed it blonde like she had always wanted to. Well, I gotta say it looks great on her. Still wearing that grey hoodie that she stole from me, that night when we were dancing with the stars in the park.

Instead of the dim light of her phone lighting up her smooth tanned skin, it was the moonlight that had accented her glow. She shined like the miracle star you see on Christmas nights. How can I forget those big brown eyes? It was like looking into a black hole, pulling you into a void where you were lost to both space and time. Scary to think about but it always pulled me in to stay.

I thought about not only her eyes but those moments when we got lost in space and time. How we used to dance to Earth, Wind, and Fire in her kitchen. Watching Strangers Things on that old green couch she had in her living room. Even remembering each other's coffee order. I miss her. I miss those memories we shared. Just like wishing on a star. I wish she would tell me why she left me. Did I not make her happy? Did I not give her the stars, the moon, and sun?

I thought I had finally moved on. A part of me still wants her back or while the other half is telling me let her go; move on. I wanted her to notice how much I have changed too. How I finally decided to cut my hair short like she had always asked me. Hopefully, she will hear how I changed my coffee order too. I reached over to the side of her going in to grab some napkins.

“Excuse me,” I said to her.

“Ooops, I am sorry,” she replied.

“It’s ok, I really like your hair.”

“Thank you so much... Oh my God Antonio!! Is that really you?”

She reached out and gave me a hug. It was the type of awkward hug you give to family members you meet for the first time.

“Yeah. It’s me,” I said smiling hiding my emotions.

“You look good. I didn’t even recognize you. You finally cut your hair.”

“Yeah. It was getting too much to handle. But me, look at your beautiful as always, Briana.” I said, grazing the little buzz I had on my head.

“I see you’re still rocking that hoodie of mine.”

She awkwardly laughed as she crossed arms and looked down at the floor. We caught up on each other's lives. Asking how work is going or if we added any new songs to that old school playlist we used to listen to together. My heart pounding as I gazed back into those brown eyes. Just like old times I was lost in space and time. It was just me and her.

“Colombian dark roast with extra cream, no sugar, for Antonio,” yelled the youthful employee.

“That’s me!” I said, raising my hand as I grabbed my coffee.

Briana asked “No sugar? You couldn’t have coffee without sugar when we went out together.”

“Yeah, I outgrew it I always loved creamer anyways.”

“Antonino... I want to apologize. I am sorry for leaving you. Although we were never official, I have always tried to find you in every guy that I met. I never found that special bond I had with you. I wanted to call so many times, but I was scared that you had blocked me or were going to lash out on me. I guess, I want to know if you wanted to make up?”

I took a moment to take it all in. I could see the truth in her eyes. I guess all those times talking to the moon paid off. I sipped my coffee and looked down at the steam leaking from the sipping hole. I thought how much I used to love having sugar with my coffee. I looked back into her eyes and pulled her hair behind her ear. We leaned in to lean for our “Disney” kiss. Kissing her on big forehead that stretched pass the milky way. Pulling back, I smiled looking into her big brown eyes. I then turned to the front door carrying that smile as I left back into the cold world with no sugar in my coffee.