Coffee Stains

Mia had a thing for coffee shops. The quiet hum, the aroma of freshly roasted beans, and watching people lost in thought over their swirls of latte art made her feel alive. And while most folks claimed every coffee shop looked the same, Mia would argue that each one had its unique charm—a sentiment she shared with no one except her journal entries. Every Saturday afternoon, Mia spent in her usual spot by the big window at "Steam & Brew." Not fancy, but comfortable. On this particular Saturday, as she lazily flipped through pages of her dog-eared book, something caught her eye—a worn, spiral-bound notebook left abandoned two tables away. Mia glanced around. No hint at who might own it, so she did what any self-respecting book lover would do: she picked it up, planning to drop it at the counter. But curiosity is an irresistible beast. "Just a peek," Mia declared to the air. What she found inside was captivating—a mix of sketches and handwritten entries. The writer talked about mundane wonders, everyday observations—like noting how the barista's smile lit up an entire morning or how the rain on the window seeped into the soul, washing away moments that clung to the heart. Intrigued, Mia kept reading until she came upon an entry that felt personal: "To the girl by the window, who reads while the world moves—I'd like to know what colors her dreams." Her heart raced as she reread the lines, trying to attach meaning to them. There was only one thing to do. The notebook had clues—an email scribbled on the back cover. She hesitated but managed to send a brief message. Claiming the note? Yes, but she wanted to meet and return it personally. Just as Mia had settled into her new detective role, a reply arrived: "Yes, I am. How about Tuesday, 5 PM at the place where sunlight meets steam? —Ethan" Seriously? Mia smirked at his poetic flair and replied. Tuesday came, bringing nerves and anticipation. Ethan was already seated at her favorite spot. He was tall and had this unruly mop of hair. Thin-framed glasses balanced on a nose that had its fair share of sunburns. "You're Mia," he guessed. "I am. I believe I have something of yours," Mia replied, holding the notebook out. Ethan grinned, relieved. "I thought it was lost to time. What--uh—what did you think?" "Beautiful," Mia admitted unabashedly. They spoke the next hours away. Turns out Ethan had a way with words and painted worlds more vibrant than colors allowed. They bonded over the small magics often ignored—the way old books cried out for a second glance or how music could transform a silence. Yet, as connections grew, so did questions. "You write beautifully," Mia ventured during another meet-up, "Almost like you're looking for something." Ethan chuckled, a sad shadow creeping in. "Maybe all of us are searching." His peculiar response sparked something in Mia. During the following visits, there was a subtle melancholy she couldn't quite place in Ethan's tone. It wasn't until much later, on an autumn afternoon, when the penny dropped. Deep in conversation while clutching their mugs, Mia's sleeve brushed a page she'd never noticed before in another of his notebooks—a therapy appointment note. Ethan caught her glance and sighed. "It's for my younger sister. I'm... I'm just starting to see her again." He paused before continuing. "There's this gap. We, we were kids. Our parents separated, and I was uprooted. She's most of what I have left now." Mia's heart softened as she looked into his searching eyes. "You care a lot about her." "I do. Time borrowed—not ours to keep, but treasure," Ethan said, his signature poetic touch faintly melancholic. Their story twisted beyond Mia's expectations. There was no rulebook when worlds collide and hearts open. They spent more time, slowly moving Ethan’s reality into a warmer, better-lit future. Months rolled by and so did life, but whether woven across memories or held captive by nostalgia, mornings in the coffee shop stayed magical. They grew familiar, like a returned favorite book, comforting to the touch. Some stories end abruptly, but Mia and Ethan’s continued—even as the sharpest chapters brought tears and laughter from open hearts.