Coffee

The afternoon shines a soft glow on his weathered and somewhat handsome face. His gray hair is a little disheveled but not to the point you would consider him an unkempt man. His eyes are piercingly blue. I looked at them for a longer moment and my extremities felt their frigidness. His aspect is of a gentleman from a bygone era. He sits with his back erect and legs crossed. His hands have bulging veins and are considerably graceful; they are disconcertingly inviting and seem so comforting.

The shattering irony crushes my wits. I had yearned for him so many times throughout my journey...

I take another sip of my coffee. Interesting how things taste differently when you are conscious it’s the last time you are having them. Strangely enough, it does not taste better. I am having difficulty swallowing for it feels like a rock is going down my throat. Nonetheless, I want to take every single sip and finish my whole cappuccino as if it’s my self-imposed purgatory.

He patiently waits and mumbles while twiddling his fingers on the table and his head slowly turns around sweeping his surroundings with his gaze. ‘You know this is inevitable now, right?’, he says without even looking at me. Yes, yes, I do know. I nod with my head. Words just escape me and my voice is silent… There is a disconcerting understanding between us that goes beyond language. It is almost as if we have been friends all of my life. His posture actually reveals a certain respect towards my situation. Just as soon as I made life my ally, he comes telling me it is time to retreat.

There was a moment I regarded my existence insignificant. And here is the plot twist – the sole purpose of my odyssey has been to find the significance of ME and now that I am in peace with what I have attained, it is time to walk down the aisle.

I stare at him and with reluctant conviction finally offer my hand. He seemed distracted up to then, but his half smile is wicked now. I slurp what’s left of my coffee just before he touches my hand. We both slowly stand up whilst I take a quick look back at all I am leaving behind. I calmly arrange the crease on the back of my skirt and when my head turns up, my eyes meet with his defiant, but gentle glare. We start walking hand in hand and amidst the whirlwind that are my thoughts; this one dominates the rest and throbs in my head: this end feels more like I am just beginning.