Another morning and another unspeakable word written on her shop front. But this one wasn't written on her door with ink, no instead it was scratched into the glass window. Jagged and just as unpleasant looking as the word itself. 

Myra could only sigh. She supposed this was their response to her scrubbing the ink off every other time. 

Myra had, unbelievably, left schooling before she could turn 15, yet she couldn't help feeling like she was stuck back there again. 

It somehow made it worse that she hadn't seen Dacien in a week. The one time he had actually listened to Myra was the first time she didn't really mean it.

“When did I get so used to being annoyed by him?” Myra mumbled begrudgingly as she set her shop up for the day. Even if lately, she's only been getting one customer. 

“Good morning, dear.” Magna smiled as the doorbell chimed.

“You either have no fear or a crippling addiction to tea, to keep coming back here after what happened.” Myra couldn't help herself, though she kept a light heart. 

Magna joyfully laughed while picking up a bag of her usual tea. “You could say both of those things. But you could also say that there's no reason for me to be scared of you.” She carefully put the small bag down on the counter. 

Quizzically, Myra looked at it, then back up to her. “Why not? Everyone else is. Surely you've heard what they're calling me now, it's even worse than before! I'm no longer someone overtaken by a demon, I am the demon. Straight from hell, they're saying.” 

“I know, I've read all the words on your door.” She gave Myra a sympathetic look. “But I've been drinking your tea almost since you first opened your shop and nothing bad has happened to me yet! You always smile and greet me like anyone else in this town, too. You're no different than the rest of us, at your core.”

Myra took her time to hear those words, with an empty stare towards the bag of tea. At my core. She thought while she prepped for the sale.

“Where's that boy you're always with? I haven't seen him in a while. No– don't tell me he believes what everyone's saying!” Magnolia stood, shocked, worried, hoping she had made a mistake.

“I uh,” Myra laughed sheepishly, “I told him to get lost a week ago. I didn't think he actually would.”

“Well why'd you go and do that?”

“He's annoying. And so insistent and just sometimes so entitled.” Myra listed, quickly remembering all the reasons she had wanted to get rid of him. The list wasn't extensive, but they were still important.

But upon further thought… 

“He was the worst when around other people, like he was trying to impress them. But alone…he’s alright.”

Magnolia put a warm, wrinkled hand over her Myra's on the counter. She drew Myra’s eyes to look at her own, sharing the care she had built up for her favourite brewer. Myra couldn't explain it, but it gave her a looming feeling of unease overtop of comfort.

“Is that the kind of person you want in your life?” She asked. 

Myra curled her hand. “He's almost the only person at all that I have.” Everyone has flaws… she thought. 

“Well…sometimes all you need is a little communication. Tell him how you feel, what you think of him, and whatever he does with that information should tell you what to do next.”

“What do you mean?”

Magna smiled again, a hint of self pride shining through. “If he listens to you and agrees with you, he sounds like a friend. If he disagrees, maybe you both aren't the right shape for each other's lives.”

Myra gripped Magnolia’s hand, her eyes slowly drawing up to meet hers.

“You…have completely lost me.”

Magna laughed, low and melodic. “And I thought I was finally sharing the wisdom of my age! Hah! That's okay love, forget most of it. Just talk to him.”

Myra nodded carefully.

“Ah, right!” She perked up, sliding the bag of tea closer to Magna. “That'll be 42 pence please!”

“Not even a slight discount for all of my heartfelt advice? I'm hurt.” Magna laughed, fishing her clip purse out from her handmade bag.

“Your money is almost the only thing left that keeps my shop open! I'll take every penny I can get.”

“Then I'm glad to be supporting local business. Here, keep the change.” Magna dropped the money into Myra’s palm with a soft wink.

Myra opened her mouth to refute, but the old lady whipped around and headed for the door before a breath could escape.

“I'll see you next week!”

“Uh- Thank you! Have a good week!” Myra called out before the door chimed shut and the shop went back to the usual ambient silence.

There was a long pause before Myra dispensed the money into her till. The shop somehow felt warmer than before.