Inspired by Hopper

Nighthawks

She sits in the empty coffee shop all alone. The smell of coffee wafts through the restaurant. Warm air circulates throughout the shop. It’s been a sleepless night, she should be in bed but instead here she is, staring out the window into the dark town. A chair screeches across the floor as someone pulls it out from under the table so they can sit. A ceramic cup is placed in front of her with piping hot coffee filled to the brim. She lifts her head and looks up; across from her is an older man who seems sad. “Penny for your thoughts?” He asks her with a smile. She smiles back and tells the man how she is dreading going to work in the morning, she might be getting fired. The man express his concern for her and says nice things. The two chat ideally until the girl asks him what he’s doing up at this hour. His happiness diminishes and he seems to droop. “My wife passed away.” The man tells the woman. She gets up from where she’s sitting and hugs this stranger. Then they are back sitting and chatting some more. Their quiet chatter of conversation is all that is heard in the diner. Before the two of them know it, the sun is in the morning sky. Two plates are put in front of them by a waitress that listened to them for five hours and felt like doing something nice for them. They graciously take the food and eat slowly before the girl remembers she needs to get to work. The man smiles at her and bids her good luck, she thanks him and makes plans to meet up again with this man later. It’s now four thirty in the afternoon, the man hasn’t left the building. The bell over the front door dings and in steps the girl. Both of their spirits are lifted when they see one another. They become good friends, neighbors, and keep up this routine over the years.