The sharp blare of a car horn yanked me from my daze. I blinked, peering into the rear-view mirror. A flush of embarrassment warmed my cheeks as I realized I’d been zoning out, oblivious to the now-green traffic light. My foot eased down on the gas, bringing my car forward. The unsettling image of my name, twisted into something grotesque, kept pulling my focus away from the present.

The familiar murmur of the morning radio accompanied my short drive as I made my way to my Uncle Mel’s cafe, Delightful. It was a routine born a year ago when he opened up a shop just a few blocks from my office. My coworkers often joked that the lure of free coffee was my only motivation for the detour, and while free things are always welcome, I believed Mel brewed the best cup in town. 

Pulling into the packed parking lot, my breath hitched at the sight of the massive line snaking out from Delightful’s door. Thursdays were a slow burn for Delightful; this bustling scene was out of the ordinary. Intrigued, I leaned out of the open car window, trying to make sense of the unexpected mob.

Better late than Never! A Fan Favorite: Chocolate Chip Cookie Frappe is Back!

So, it’s here, a bit later than usual, it seemed. March’s special last year had been a hit, his biggest seller. Word must have spread like wildfire; this looked like the opening bell rush even though it was mid-morning. I worried that Mel and Lucas, his new hire, were already swamped and running on fumes. I let out a sigh as I exited the car, finding a parking spot after turns of the merry-go-round. 

A low hum of overlapping conversations washed over me as I found my spot at the tail end of the line. There were teenagers clutching saved allowance, eager for a pre-class taste, and adults already immersed in work, reviewing documents or barking into business calls. It’s fascinating. Lives that couldn’t be more different, all meeting up at this moment of enjoyment or needing some coffee. I glanced down at my watch. Thirty minutes until the real workday began, but judging by the length of this queue, a caffeine fix before then felt unlikely. My mind drifted. I’m sure it was okay; it would take Michael a bit to send me the information from the crime scene, anyway. A light tap on my shoulder pulled me from my thoughts, filled by a man’s low voice.

“Hey, excuse me… Is this where the line for Delightful starts?”

Dark hair brushed his forehead, framing eyes the color of a winter sky. The icy blue, so familiar under the strands, sparked a fleeting echo of my long-lost childhood friend. 

“Good morning, Class! Can I have everyone’s attention?” Our teacher’s voice resounded through the room, catching even the rowdy kid’s attention.

“Today we have a new classmate! Come in, please!” The teacher raised her voice so that whoever was standing outside could hear. A slight creak accompanied the door’s opening as a tiny boy stepped inside. His hands gripped the straps of his backpack. Even from my seat in the very back, I could see the beauty of his sky-blue eyes. 

His tiny steps made it to the teacher’s desk. He turned to face the classroom and introduced himself at the teacher’s beckoning.

“Hello. My name is Eric Wolfe. I hope we can get along.” His voice was a defining monotone. His lack of desire to participate was obvious. 

“Everyone, make sure to be nice to your new classmate! Sit in the empty seat in the back.” The teacher instructed him to sit next to me. The only empty seat left in the class. Though his expression felt like he’d rather be anywhere else, he held his head high and maintained perfect posture. He lifted the chair so it wouldn’t scratch the floor and sat down. The teacher began the class day after she saw he had settled. I looked at Eric, his eyes glued to the teacher, but my lengthy stare seemed to have caught his attention. His head turned towards me, his eyes furrowing in confusion. I let out a big smile and waved at him. Then I leaned forward, whispering loudly.

“Hi! I’m Selene.”

I heard a loud thud at the front of the classroom. The teacher was looking at me with a serious expression. “Selene, let us save our excitement for class break.”

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, causing me to sink back into the hard-wooden chair. 

After a long class session, it was lunchtime. I felt excited to talk to the new kid. I didn’t have many friends, or I guess any friends, so this could be my chance. Though I guess I wasn’t the only one interested in the mysterious new student, as there was already a crowd forming around him. I guess I’d have to try later, or maybe my earlier embarrassment had already thrown away my chance. 

I grabbed my lunch and headed for my usual spot in the playground under the gigantic tree. It was a nice, sunny day. The breeze was relaxing, and it was nice and quiet, unlike the classroom. I took a bite of my sandwich, wandering thoughts filling my mind. A few bites later and a shadow unfamiliar to the tree branches appeared. And in my gaze, entered some small feet in some expensive-looking shoes. I looked up, and it was Eric standing before me. His expression was still emotionless like earlier, but this time he extended his hands towards me.

“I’m Eric, nice to meet you.”

He called out to me once more, breaking me away from the fading edges of my memory. What were the chances? Of course, the thought would be pointless as it would have been around 20 years, right? What would I even say after all this time? The silence that stretched between us felt thick with unspoken awkwardness. I closed my eyes, rubbing the bridge of my nose, hoping to mask my momentary disorientation. 

“Oh, ah… sorry,” I mumbled, “Clearly, it's too early, and this line is keeping me from my caffeine fix.”

A charming smile spread across his face, crinkling the corners of his alluring eyes.

“So, it’s true! I just got into town and heard about this place as I was looking around the area.”

“Well, the wait might be long, but I promise, once you get your order, it’s 100% worth it. You won’t regret it.” 

I offered a smile, a small, unnecessary endorsement given the testament of the queue. He held my gaze for a moment longer, a curious expression causing a fresh wave of self-consciousness to wash over me.

“Eric,” he offered, extending his hand.

Again, the name, so close to his, tugged at a familiar ache, a reminder of the little boy lost to a sudden parting years ago. We’d been inseparable, best friends, and then… nothing. He vanished without a trace. If it is him, surely there’d be a clearer moment for this, when the morning’s oddness hadn’t left my thoughts in such a tangle. My hand met his, my fingers registering the slight roughness of his calloused palm before I offered a gentle grip.

“Selene,” I replied, a soft smile gracing my lips.

Our conversation flowed, touching on the small, random details of life, until the slow creep of time reminded us of our separate destinations. This unexpected encounter, a new face paired with simple conversation, had splashed a welcome bit of happiness onto my tense morning.

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Art: Petra Eggert