Luna

Chapter 1

A/N: Cover inspired by TheTigerWriter .

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Luna

Step after step. One foot in front of the other.

My eyes are downcast as I make my way down the street, leaving shallow footprints in the snow. It's late and I need to go home, but I don't want to. My feet are freezing and I don't feel my nose anymore, but the emptiness in my heart is even more unbearable, so I just keep on walking.

The wonderful smell of coffee gets my attention, so I lift my gaze searching for the source. Not even twenty feet in front of me a warm, yellow light is shining from a cafe window, welcoming me. I've been living in this neighborhood for a year, but I have never been to this place.

Hesitating for a moment, I fist my hands and make a decision.

My arm lifts and I grab the handle pushing the door open. I hear a small bell jingling above them as I step inside. The warmth and smell in this place relaxes me instantly as I take a quick look around.

Light cream color walls, dark red leather chairs pushed under tables. This place is small, there is a counter with vitrine and no more than five tables. I see a big chalkboard behind the counter, but no cashier. I'm the only one here. Slowly approaching the counter, I read all the different names of the coffee drinks, but I only know two from the list.

I find the familiar name on the board and take out my wallet to count the money I have in it.

"Hey, sorry you needed to wait." A male voice speaks on my right.

Quickly glancing up, I notice a man coming from the other side of the counter with a big bag in his hand. He puts the bag somewhere under the counter and stops facing me.

He's tall, around 6 feet, pitch-black hair, and warm brown eyes. There is a decent amount of stubble covering his jaw and a friendly smile. He looks older than me, in his mid-thirties, I think.

"That's all right." I smile weakly and steal a quick glance at the board behind him. My voice is soft and quiet like it had been for years now.

"What would you like?"

Biting my lip, I avert my eyes and go with the usual. "Coffee with cream," I say quietly.

"Anything else? The pastries are good," he offers, but I shake my head.

"Okay, coffee it is. Are you in a hurry? I was planning on grounding a new batch, it would taste much better, but you'll have to wait for around five to seven minutes more." He shrugs, smiling at me.

"I can wait."

"That's great, why don't you sit down and I'll bring your coffee over to you?" he suggests.

Nodding once, I steal one last glimpse at all the names on the board. Maybe I could try something new? But what if I don't like it? Or I pronounce it wrong? I would look stupid. Shaking my head at myself, I slide five dollars across the table, but the guy pushes them back.

"On the house. For the wait." He winks and turns around and fiddles with some machines.

I take a seat at the table and unbutton my coat, but I don't dare to take it off. Instead, I take out my phone from my pocket and open my crossword app.

Looking at my phone in my lap, my long blond hair hangs like a curtain in front of my face, obscuring the rest of the world from me. I manage about two levels before I get bored with it and put the phone down. Lifting my gaze, my eyes meet the brown ones and a slight smile stretches across his lips.

Out of the habit, I look away immediately and squirm a bit in my seat. I'm getting hot, but I don't feel comfortable taking my coat off. I know it's pointless and stupid, but I don't want the nice guy to see what's underneath it. It's one of the reasons I like winter. It's hard to tell what's under the heavy coats and jackets. Once again, I lower my head and play with my thumb under the table waiting for my coffee.

"Here you go, miss." He slides a steaming cup across the table, hesitating a moment he speaks up, "Can I sit with you?"

Not wanting to be rude, I nod once and wrap my hands around the cup.

"That's some weather out there."

I nod once again but stay quiet.

"I'm Sam, by the way." He extends his hand.

Now it's my turn to hesitate.

"I'm Luna," I say quietly, extending my hand toward his.

His handshake is firm and his palm is a bit calloused but warm. As quickly as it's polite, I draw my hand back.

"That's a cool name."

"Thank you."

I see he wants to keep the conversation going, and that I'm not helping, but that's for the best. I'm not that good at talking with people. My laugh is silly and I always say the wrong thing, so I have learned to stay mute.

When my coffee is empty, I smile at Sam and thank him, getting up from my seat.

"Come again, Luna," he says, standing and smiling warmly at me.

I button up my coat and nod once, then I'm out of the café as if the earth was on fire. My steps slow only when I've put about three blocks between myself and the small coffee shop. I roam the streets for another hour only then returning to my empty and barely furnished apartment.

But something has changed. I have a faint smile stretching across my lips.