She looks at me from the corner of her eyes, and a smile forms at the edge of her lips. We don’t speak, we don’t make direct eye contact yet – but she knows that I’m just as thrilled to see her. The aroma that permeates the air awakes my senses as I walk quietly behind her and turn on the tap, allowing the sound of water flowing fill the silence. It’s about time, I thought as I wait patiently for her to finish her morning routine. She knows what I need, and she was going to give it to me – hot and bittersweet.
After our brief exchange, I’m always a different person. Sometimes I shamelessly go for a second helping, but most of the time, one a day is enough. We smile again, this time our eyes meet, exchanging a shy thank you and welcome. Thanks to her, ever since we met, my days of instant coffee sachets are over and my mornings are filled with aromatic Nescafe tarik – concocted in all the right proportions (and I’m too stingy to spend ten dollars for a cuppa everyday). I dread the day we have to part.
As they say, there are two kinds of people we should never take for granted – those who love you, and those who make you your morning coffee.
Thank you, awesome tea-coffee lady.