People walked past her without looking. Someone in the crowd bumped into her and just kept moving. She saw a wee cafe on the corner, pushed the door open and it was scotch pies and soup and warmth.
A waitress walked by and smiled.
“Hiya, just sit anywhere you like.”
She took a seat near the back and ordered a coffee.
The waitress brought it over and she held the cup in her hands and breathed out slowly.
The rain fell on the window as she looked into her cup and swirled it round. Out on the street, someone ran past with their coat pulled up over their head.
Amy checked her phone.
No messages.
No notifications.
Just like yesterday.
She pulled her jumper down over her hands.
The waitress stopped.
“You alright, love? You after anything else?”
“Oh, just another coffee, full caff, please.”
The waitress smiled.
Amy noticed the name tag: Lorna.
The crowd from the bingo was in. Someone mentioned legs eleven and they burst out laughing,
Lorna brought the coffee over.
“Here you are. Can I get you anything else?”
“I’m… okay, thanks.”
Lorna considered her for a moment and stepped closer.
“You alright?”
“Oh, I’m alright, thanks. This is a really nice place.”
“Thanks, if you need anything, just give me a shout. I’m Lorna, by the way.”
“I’m Amy.”
“Pleasure.”
Lorna turned and walked back to the counter. The couple in the window seat were arguing over something. The woman raised her voice, Amy watched from the corner of her eye as Lorna walked over and leaned between them, voice low.
The rain got heavier. Water ran down the street like rivers. The older woman at the counter gave Lorna a towel to put down at the base of the door.
“Thanks boss. This weather, Jill,” sighed Lorna.
Jill’s laugh was more wheeze than anything else.
Amy didn’t look up as they walked back. She heard them from the counter.
“What’s the deal with that lassie? She’s taking the piss sitting here all day wi’ two coffees” grumbled Jill.
Amy could feel herself turning red, the heat rising in her face. She stared at her phone like it had the answers.
“Two coffees. She’s not doing any harm, Jill. She seems a bit of a soul.”
Jill sighed.
“Well, see if she wants anything else, eh?”
Lorna made her way over.
“Hey, how’s your coffee? Can I get you anything else?”
Amy looked up at her from her phone, the screen in the middle of refreshing.
“Oh, I’m okay. I should get going.”
“You don’t need to rush off.”
Amy looked back at Jill, who was watching.
“It’s fine, honestly.” Amy stood and pulled on her coat.
Jill mumbled something under her breath.
Lorna looked back and mouthed, “Don’t be an arsehole.”
She put her hand on Amy’s arm.
“You’re welcome anytime, love.”
“Thanks.”
Amy was back out into the street and the rain. She pulled her coat tight.
The queue at the taxi rank looked miserable.
She crossed the road and turned down the back streets.
She got home. It was dark and cold. She didn’t switch on the light. She nearly slipped on the unopened post.
She ignored the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink.
She pulled the duvet up on the couch, felt the coldness against her and typed into her phone.
“I spoke to someone today. Someone saw me.”
She put the phone down and sat in the darkness, listening to the rain on the window.
© Paul Andrew Sneddon
Paul Andrew Sneddon 