Day 1
The three of us were wrapping up service as the sky just began to redden. Sophie was wiping the marble quartz tabletops while Liza was storing away leftover pastries for our tomorrow breakfast. We wore proper attire, mine, a white collared top with black slacks, the girls, white blouses, black skirts. Sophie had short black hair, Liza, medium and blonde.
Having finished closing the system, I leaned back on the counter, looking up. Our cafe was located at the first level of an enormous corporate office. Being connected with the main plaza, above us baristas was an open sightline of all the floors, such that any employee could simply look over their railing and see our cafe at the ground level. The gleaming white tiles began to take on an apricot hue, reflecting the retiring sun. Dark birds clustered on a ledge outside.
"What're you looking at, boss?" Sophie plainly asked.
"Oh..."
I shook my head.
In the script it had been a busy day.
But the scene called for waning gibbous.
These two girls I cared for—if I could’ve cherished this more. Studied this reality like an espresso.
In my hands I can envision a small ceramic cup. Is it filled? Is it empty?
The girls, do they know how this story ends?
I’ve been here. Time and time again. As I recount it, the seasons change, but not them, but not me.