The soft, languid music filling the room, melting into whispered conversations and the steady hum of the machines. He’d gotten used to spending his days like this, drifting from counter to counter with a practiced smile and a careful hand, steaming mugs of coffee set in front of grateful customers as they settled into the warmth of the atmosphere. Today, however, was especially slow- elbows resting upon the countertop, he exhaled a puff of breath, ruffling his bangs.

So this is what loneliness feels like.