Alyssa sat fidgeting in New York City's version of a French cafe, sipping lukewarm coffee, while soaking up the atmosphere. Her long red fingernails made a clicking sound on the rim of her coffee cup. The nails picked up speed the longer she tapped. Agitation was about to raise his ugly head. Once again she was waiting for Chad, her possible Mr. Right, to arrive.
The open front cafe was noisy but inviting. The busy streets of New York City were forty three steps away from where Alyssa sat. She knew this to be a fact, because she had counted them--twice in the past hour. Each time she walked to the curb, grabbing a quick glance, hoping Chad would be walking down the avenue. He wasn't. Horns were blowing, couples trying to hail a cab cursed as the taxi stopped for someone else. A low rumble of chatter continued from the customers inside the cafe. Alyssa became nervous sitting in a strange place waiting for a young man, she was barely knew, to arrive for their third date. . . if he showed up. Alyssa tried to dodge the uncomfortable feeling he was not joining her tonight. She called his cell phone twice. Once to confirm she had the right address and the second time to see if he was stuck at the office or in traffic. He did not answer or return her messages. Something was wrong. She wished she knew if she should be mad or worried because right now she was both. There was a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
The waiter approached her table for the second time, asking if she was ready to order or did she want to wait a few more minutes. Alyssa said, "I'll have another cup of coffee and I will order a Jack and Coke for my friend, who will be here soon." The waiter smiled saying, "I will be back with your orders."
Alyssa scanned the cafe again. The decor appeared to be a knock off version of the old outdoor French cafes of years past, with wrought iron chairs and tables. Three walls were painted a Tuscan sun color. The middle wall had a fresco painted from the floor to the ceiling. The lush greenery in the scene surrounded a stone colored water fountain. A crack in the wall reach from the floor to the middle of the fountain. The crack added a touch of reality to the painting. Glancing at her watch, she noticed five minutes had passed. Calling Chad was no longer an option. She would return to her apartment alone before she dialed his number again.
After the waiter brought her a coffee and mixed drink for Chad, her imagination began to come to the forefront of her mind's eye, taking over as usual when stress began to increase in her life. With an easy rhythm, Alyssa was drawn into the lives of the other customers in the cafe.
To her right sat an elderly couple eating their meal in a comfortable silence. After years and years of conversation they enjoyed their meal and their own thoughts. . . together yet alone. Across from Alyssa sat the most beautiful black woman she had ever seen. Her ebony skin glistened in a ocean blue silk dress. Hooped silver earrings were tangled in a long mass of black curls. When she spoke her voice was rich with a thick Caribbean accent. The woman had completely captivated her dinner partner. They were a beautiful couple of the same sex, enjoying a night out on the town.
A young couple, with their three year old daughter,sat enjoying ice cream floats. They laughed and talked making plans for the future while enjoying the present. People came and went several times before Alyssa decided to call it a night. She glanced around the room looking for her waiter. Smiling, he brought her the check. Alyssa paid the bill and left a tip. She stood up and took a long swig of Chad's watered down drink. Then she turned to walk down the avenue.
Tonight left a sour taste in her stomach. She was twenty one and this would not be the last time she felt the acidic taste of hurt. She looked around the cafe one last time, thinking 'any of these people could be a glimpse of my life one day. Who knows?' Alyssa turned and slowly left the cafe. She had no clue what life had in store for her but, one thing she knew for sure. . . it would be better than tonight.
The waiter watched the young woman walk away. He felt a bit of sadness and relief as he picked up his cell phone and called his brother. On the second ring, Chad answered. " She is gone", said the waiter as he hung up the phone. Chad smiled and began to get dressed for a night on the town. 'Alyssa did not know how lucky she was', thought Chad, as he slipped on his shoes. He looked in the mirror one last time. Then he picked up his switchblade knife, smiled at his reflection and walked out the door. Chad was ready to party his way.
A young couple, with their three year old daughter,sat enjoying ice cream floats. They laughed and talked making plans for the future while enjoying the present. People came and went several times before Alyssa decided to call it a night. She glanced around the room looking for her waiter. Smiling, he brought her the check. Alyssa paid the bill and left a tip. She stood up and took a long swig of Chad's watered down drink. Then she turned to walk down the avenue.
Tonight left a sour taste in her stomach. She was twenty one and this would not be the last time she felt the acidic taste of hurt. She looked around the cafe one last time, thinking 'any of these people could be a glimpse of my life one day. Who knows?' Alyssa turned and slowly left the cafe. She had no clue what life had in store for her but, one thing she knew for sure. . . it would be better than tonight.
The waiter watched the young woman walk away. He felt a bit of sadness and relief as he picked up his cell phone and called his brother. On the second ring, Chad answered. " She is gone", said the waiter as he hung up the phone. Chad smiled and began to get dressed for a night on the town. 'Alyssa did not know how lucky she was', thought Chad, as he slipped on his shoes. He looked in the mirror one last time. Then he picked up his switchblade knife, smiled at his reflection and walked out the door. Chad was ready to party his way.
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