A Moment of Calm

A brief exercise in relaxation

You walk into the café.

You’ve been here before. This is the place where you grew to love the simple cup of coffee. It’s the place where your best friend told you that story about the horse. You have many fond memories of this place, but for the most part, you go here alone.

You close your umbrella and throw back your hood. The weather outside is dreadful, but as soon as you enter the coffee shop you feel a lot warmer. The carpet feels soft under your feet, despite the thick shoes that divide you. You take a moment to breathe, then head towards the counter.

The barista looks up and recognises you instantly. He treats you to an amiable smile as he takes your order and tells you that he’ll drop it down to you when it’s ready. You thank him and start walking towards the seating area.

You take your seat in your usual spot, the table beside the window at the far wall. The soft strum of acoustic guitar drifts from a speaker somewhere above you, adding to the ambience to your visit. You haven’t heard this song before and resolve to look it up when you get home.

You look out on the street outside, the rain pouring down from the heavens. The few people you see are rushing by using whatever they have to hand as makeshift umbrellas. You smirk at how queer a man looks holding a soggy newspaper above his head, a grim look on his face as he strides purposefully through the downpour.

You wonder what his purpose is exactly and start to make up a story in your head. You imagine that he is a well-to-do businessman who is well respected in his field, but is often mocked by his co-workers for being too serious. The mustache framing his sour mouth seems to cement this idea in your head and you almost chuckle, despite yourself.

The rain makes a soft sound as it beats against the window, a percussive rhythm to the acoustic melodies pervading the air. You wish that you were outside to smell the petrichor, but you don’t mind. The inside of a coffee shop brings its own unique scents that are just as pleasurable.

The barista arrives with your order, shooting you another smile and telling you to enjoy it. You feel like you know him well, but you rarely exchange words outside of this regular exchange of pleasantries. You ponder his life briefly, but think little of it.

The coffee is okay. It’s always okay. With every sip you wish that you were drinking something more fancy, champagne perhaps. You long for that time a few weeks ago that you were mirthfully drinking vermouth with your friends. Or was that only last Tuesday? It doesn’t matter, it’s in the past.

You decide that you are better off drinking an average cup of coffee. The grander pleasures in life become tiresome through constant exposure. At least the humble cup of coffee will never let you down, even if it is not particularly exciting. Milk and two sugars never hurt anybody, right?

Your mind drifts to grandiose adventures, your hair flowing in the wind as you brandish a sword against some mortal enemy. Your regular hero fantasies flair up in your mind, but you beat them back with another quiet sip from the porcelain cup.

This is fine. Today is halfway through and that’s okay. Even if it is only a fleeting moment of calm, in this very instant, you have no earthly worries to speak of.

You breathe in and then you breathe out.