I woke up this morning in a puddle of blue light. This indescribable feeling inside my chest. I think if I had to describe it though, it would be the color of melancholy.  Or like a rainy day viewed from a big empty room high off the ground. Somehow empty, a little sad, but soothing at the same time. 

I don’t know what it means for my day to start out like this, but the show must go on. I slowly get out of bed, stretching my sleepy bones and start my day. All the standard things. Brush my teeth. Drink my tea. Crawl back into my bed for a little reassurance before I’m off. 

I decide to walk to the office today. It’s just one of those days where I want to listen to the silence of the world. Bask in the solitude. I don’t know if that’s a feeling everyone gets. But I’m feeling it more often lately. I need the quiet in this busy world around me. People always moving. I just want to stand still for a second. 

Before I know it I’m at the office. I pause for a second, breathe in a little sigh, and walk into the big glass building. My office is on the third floor, so I make my way to the elevator. As I get there I see my coworker Sherry. Her office is right next to mine so we walk together. Her short blond bob bounces as she talks and it makes me smile. 

Soon enough we part ways to start the day’s work. For the second time today, I feel that feeling again, like a wave creeping up on me. I stare out the window and mildly note that it’s begun to rain. I look out at the horizon before me. It stretches so wide, and for a second I wonder what it would be like to fly through that expanse. To feel the cool breeze on my skin. To shake the drizzle from my hair as I glide over skyscrapers and treetops. What it would be like to be truly free. I shake my head to rid myself of the thought. It’s pointless. I can only ever be me. And that means I’ll never be free. 

As the clock ticks toward 11:30, I decide to head out for lunch. Normally I stay at the office and pack something from home to eat, but it was a strange moment. Besides, it might do me some good to switch things up every once in a while. The rain has stopped, but the sky is covered in thick grey clouds. The wet concrete of the sidewalk darkens to a chalky color, and puddles pool in its cracks. 

I don’t really know where I’m going, but it feels right to wander so that’s what I do. It doesn’t take long before I stumble upon a small coffee shop tucked in between two other little shops. The sign reads “Good Beans” and the outside wall is painted turquoise. On one side is an antique store, and on the other side one for stationary. I can smell cinnamon and coffee from outside and I know this is the one. 

As I push the glass door open to enter, I hear a sweet singing chime jingle and look up to find two silver bells above the door. I smile when I see coffee cake displayed at the counter, and the menu handwritten in colorful chalk. This place feels as close to home as I think I’ll ever get in this cold cityscape. It makes me almost feel...free, like a weight is gone from my chest. I linger for a sec, but quickly decide to play it safe with a caramel macchiato and a slice of that mouthwatering coffee cake.

But the coffee cake isn’t the only thing making me drool. Behind the counter, there’s a boy. His bright ginger curls catch my attention immediately, along with his piercing green eyes. He’s also got a literal piercing, a simple ring in his lip. His pale skin stands out against his dark green apron and I think to myself that I hit the jackpot finding this place - in more ways than one. 

I mentally shake myself as my order is called out and I go forward to grab my things. The boy smirks at me as our hands meet for a second too long. 

“See something you like?” His grin grows as he lets go of my drink. 

I stare blankly at him for a moment before I say, “Not particularly.” Then I quickly walk out the door, doing my very best to seem uninterested. I don’t think it worked, seeing as I hear a soft chuckle on my way out the door. As soon as I’m out, though, I can’t help but smile to myself as I shake my head. Something tells me I’ll be coming back here.