" I just want a cup of coffee "
The smell of caffeine, the fluorescent lights, that bulb that only worked half the time, that weird puddle that always stained the ground giving it a weird rundown vibe. I noticed all these things. After a long life even some of the weirdest things could bring you a bit of joy, and to me, this was it, the only peace in my useless life. I don't know why, but I have an inexplicable craving for coffee, and it brings me here, a two star, run down shack of a shop that's barely open. I rule a great part of this country's finances. I could get anything I want served to me on a gold plattter. I am the current CEO and major shareholder of the Grant's stock and military. I have everything I could ever want ...yet I can't stop coming here. Something in the coffee tastes vaguely familiar, almost as though I've tasted it before, but a key detail seems to be missing. I have lived a long life. A really long life, and In this life I've lived, this is the only thing that brought me not only joy but peace.
" It's ready sir " the barista said
" Yeah I'm coming "
I picked up the coffee, holding the fake china in my palm. As a slow wind flowed by I caught a whiff. That smell, the aroma, it was intoxicating but relieving at the same time.
I made my way to my seat and took a sip. YES, this feels nice. I sat at the table for almost an hour before leaving. It was a quite December afternoon, the snow a thick brown slush of dirt, mud and ice. The weather freezing, so cold I could feel it through my jacket. Taking a breath I gazed up at the sun, who decided not to show up today, I mean I don't blame him, I despise the winter season, everything about it, from the cold, to the festive air, to the snow, it made me sick but it's not like I could just get rid of it. After a few hours of walking the streets I finally made it home, as quiet as I left it. I had no one, no fiends, didn't want them. No family, they died so long ago I don't even remember their faces and no love, because the very concept scares me.
That night was as vivid to me as my last day, for this was my first encounter with it.
Once I entered my house too tired to even take off my shoes I fell on my bed aware of the mountain of work I had to take care of.
" I'll take care of them let me just take a quick nap " I thought to myself.
It was eleven thirty at night, not late for some but extremely late for me, especially tonight because of the spillover of work I had overflowing from yesterday. A quick nap wouldn't hurt. I couldn't resist and soon I dozed off. That night I was awoken by an extreme thirst, I hadn't drank water all day, still dreary I reached for my clock, it was three in the morning, setting it down I sat atop the bed and drank a cup on my table at the side of my bed.
" What a cold night...God I hate winter " I thought out loud
" I couldn't agree more "
A sound, a voice...Is someone in my room , at this ungodly hour, I wondered who it could be but I wasn't scared more so curious, I had lost my sense of fear about fifty years prior.
" Who is that ! " I said as I reached for the light switch
No response. When the lights came on there was no one there. I was too tired to question it, so I went back to bed. Soon enough I heard the unforgiving beeping of my alarm, Right I had a meeting today. Slowly and sluggishly I got up staggering and shaking from extreme sleep deprivation, walking to the kitchen I made a cup of coffee, as black as possible. A psychiatrist by the name of Geoffrey Ryan wanted a word with me. The thing is I've been running my business for about a hundred and fifty years yet I look no more than thirty, at this point the whole world questioned me and legions of scientist asked to study me but I turned them all down, But I met a man recently and we both had a chat, he was a uniquely friendly person and so I decided to humour him. I cleared my schedule and made a date with him. I guess he wanted to study the mental state of a person who's lived so long. I mean, I could've saved him a trip and told him, I barely have a hint of sanity left. After a few hours of exercise, I met him at the coffee shop where he was already waiting. I wasn't late by any means yet there he was. And he seemed to have been waiting for a while. I slowly walked to the table where he sat and pulled out a chair.
" Pleasure to meet you sir " he said with a smile across his face
" Yeah...Sure "
That voice. This voice, it was familiar, really familiar. I've heard this voice somewhere before, recently I might add.
" So what do you want to talk about "
" Well let me apologize again for taking up your time, I know how busy you business folk get, but I'll like to order something " he said as he flagged down a waitress .
" Sure ? "
I've met up with hundreds of people before and majority of them were nervous even if they didn't show it and those that weren't, were reluctant to meet me because of my position, but him, he isn't weary of me at all. From the way he talks, to his mannerisms, to even his body language. I was nothing to him. No more important than a random hillbilly on the streets, and as I gazed into his eyes I realized, he was looking down on me. I was unimportant, I was no more than an insect, a worm squirming on the ground.