The Cafe

Joe: Hi, I'm Joe. I went out to the cafe to get some fresh air. The tension between my wife and I is rising. All we ever have are shouting matches of who picks up the laundry, who cooks the food tonight, who picks up the children at school. Frankly, we've never had a good sex in years. I tried jerking off at work, but real action is different. I really miss my wife.

Hector: Geez. That white girl on the Internet. She wouldn't even remove her top on Skype and show me her white hot breasts. I didn't even see her cleavage. She looks flat-chested on camera. Too many girls with flat chests, too few big breasts on this planet. She came from the same church where I go, but really? I'm just fakin' it. To get to her heart, or rather, get between her legs. She asked if I really am a man of god. So I told her I wasn't a robot, I have feelings. I am a man, not a robot. So naturally, when I see a beautiful woman, in her birthday suit, I would get hard. That's what I told her.

Eunice: I never want to go to school again. I just want to hide. I didn't even want to go this cafe. My mother just dragged me here last minute, cos you have to be social. You need to socialize to become a normal human being. I wore a long sleeve today, though it's quite hot outside. The air-conditioning of the cafe provides only a temporary relief. I'm glad she (my mother) didn't ask any questions, I didn't have any answers. I cut myself last night, with a blade I bought the other day. I heard the other kids were doing it. I thought it was cool. Then I wondered if they were depressed too.

Three different people, three different stories, cafe customers who have one thing in mind: have coffee at their favorite coffee shop. Unwind. Relax as the soothing bossa nova relieves the tight muscles and wipes off the worry from your face. One hour, three hours, all the anxiety gone. Your problems seem to have vanished. Only for now.

We are people. We carry different stories that make each one of us humans. With feelings, emotions. We are not robots, as Hector the Latino says. Unless we have practiced self-control, we normally operate on impulse. Ego. Pride. But in more nobler human beings, who have an awareness, kindness. Compassion. Love.