Today's visitor at the diner was Benjamin, a big surprise since he's not all that fond of going out in public, but he is a fan of having coffee with me and so he arrived just in time for my break, baseball cap making him look like he did when I met him, when we were in our twenties and full of shit and didn't have a fucking care in the world. Now here we are having our coffee with the weight of the world forcing our heads under the surface of the liquid gold in order to see us drown for it. This is the price for these minor crimes. Life continuing on.
The miles since those days leave a wake in the surface of the cups. I notice. I don't know if he does. Maybe he's already drowning. I would save him but he never lets me.
He likes to leave me in the dark.
I watch him. Watch his hands as they cover mine, watch him drink his coffee, brown eyes peering at me over the rim of his cup.
I think I hate coffee, now, Benjamin.
You don't. And I have a plan for tonight if you're up for it.
Oh, really?
Sure. Caleb asked if we wanted to join him.
I don't-
Sure, you do. (Oh. He isn't listening.)
I gotta go back to work. See you at home.
I'll be waiting for you, Bee.
The miles since those days leave a wake in the surface of the cups. I notice. I don't know if he does. Maybe he's already drowning. I would save him but he never lets me.
He likes to leave me in the dark.
I watch him. Watch his hands as they cover mine, watch him drink his coffee, brown eyes peering at me over the rim of his cup.
I think I hate coffee, now, Benjamin.
You don't. And I have a plan for tonight if you're up for it.
Oh, really?
Sure. Caleb asked if we wanted to join him.
I don't-
Sure, you do. (Oh. He isn't listening.)
I gotta go back to work. See you at home.
I'll be waiting for you, Bee.