The Blink Of An Eye
It was a quiet Friday night. I entered the diner, the warm light giving me a sense of home. I smiled at Joana, the wavy-haired waitress, as I made my way to my usual booth at the farthest corner from the entrance. It did not have much air-conditioning yet had a clear view of the door and that's how I liked it. I settled in, removed my laptop and placed it onto the red table. Soon, Joana arrived with my usual milkshake, Strawberry with whipped cream and I gave her the same appreciative smile as always. This had become a daily routine. Sitting alone at home always gave way to my thoughts like the fizz contained in a carbonated drink so I worked here until I started feeling sleepy. All of it, the vibe, the warm yellow light, the red tables with cushioned chairs, Joana at the counter, the little bell ringing at the red door whenever it opened, had all become so familiar that I could comfortably spend an entire night here. Working on a research paper, I realized that the diner was comp