The Coffee Shop

Magic City Coffee Shop was relatively quiet with several people scattered about working on their laptops, sipping lattes, or just chit-chatting about life. It was a Sunday evening. The first Sunday of January 2009 and Willow sat at a table with her good friend, Josephine.

Earlier in the day, Willow had met Dru for lunch at her favorite Indian restaurant. Dru wasn't feeling well, so she didn't eat. Willow ate, but not with as much excitement since she ate alone. She felt bad for Dru and hoped she'd feel better soon. They had a decent conversation about anything Willow could think of to provoke in a positive way.

She recited a poem for Dru at the table in the restaurant before running back to the buffet to get a plate of Bhel Mix. Willow felt good about the new changes happening in her life; a little uncertain about 'how' things will come together, but faithful they would come together just the same. Dru talked passionately about work as always.

Noticing the children in the restaurant led their conversation down that road. Willow listened to Dru talk about a future husband and a child. It was like getting her heart broken all over again. She's been in love with good friends before, but not in a romantic sense, but in a 'wow, I met a soul mate' sense. This thing with Dru was new for her in terms of being in love with a good friend. This was a romantic feeling she felt towards her. Yet, she couldn't speak of it anymore after a three-hour conversation that took place two days prior to Sunday. Willow was confused, yet she enjoyed spending time with Dru.

"Dru, did you think about what we'd talked about on the phone Friday? When do you have some time another weekend - perhaps you could come over for a movie, eat, and talk like we usually do?"

"I have this weekend coming up...Sunday is the best day," Dru responded.

"Great, what about 2 p.m.?"

"That's fine."

So, Willow was excited about the fact that Dru was still interested in the friendship and wanted to continue to cultivate it. This was a good thing. It made Willow's heart open up in a different way for Dru - compassion and admiration. It couldn't be easy for Dru to be in a friendship with someone who's obviously in love with her no more than it's easy for Willow being the one in love with someone who's not in love with her. However, Dru did say she knew about how Willow felt for several weeks before she even said anything. The situation begged so many questions.

* * *

Josephine looked at Willow. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Willow said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes and no," Willow chuckled.

"Well...you can talk to me about anything. You know that," Josephine said.

"Yeah, I know."

"I'm thirsty. I'm gonna try some of their Snow Monkey Plum tea."

"What...Snow Monkeys," Willow laughed.

"It's a tea," Josephine said.

"Yeah...okay," Willow rolled her eyes.

"It's supposed to be really good. My friend in Iowa suggested that I try it."

"I'm gonna see if they have it. You want anything?"

"Sure...medium cup of decaf brewed coffee," Willow said.

"Okay, no problem. Be right back," Josephine walked to the counter. Willow's head wanted to rest on the table, but the rest of her body wouldn't allow it. She was tired and exhausted. From January 1 to January 3, she cleansed her entire apartment of everything that she felt was no longer serving her highest good. Much of it she threw away because the items were so old and worn out, but some of it she decided to give away to Goodwill and friends and co-workers who may be interested in the items: some old books (cookbooks included), a small table, lawn chair, purple glass dessert bowl, and a few other things. She hadn't worked that hard in her apartment since she moved into it four and a half years prior.

Josephine came back with a nice pot of hot Snow Monkey Plum tea. Willow didn't want to wrap her mind around where that name for the tea could've come from. "Want some?"

"Let me drink the coffee. I'll try some later," Willow said.

"Okay."

Willow ran up to the counter to retrieve the coffee. She made a B-line over to the cream and sugar bar; she stirred in some half-n-half and two packets of Splenda into the coffee. She sipped a bit and realized it wasn't as hot as she'd like for it to be, but she didn't feel like asking them to steam it, so she went back to the table.

"I'm a little worried," Josephine said.

"About what?"

"Terrence."

"What about him? Y'all broke up like two or three months ago, right?"

"This is his favorite place after he gets off work."

"Ok, so why are we here?"

"Because I like it too," Josephine said.

"Ok...ok...calm down. You're right, you should be able to enjoy your favorite place regardless of someone else," Willow said.

"What if he shows up tonight?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Willow said.

Intuitively, Willow knew Terrence wouldn't stop to speak to them. He would walk straight through the shop once he noticed Josie sitting there. Josie is what Willow calls her friend. At that moment, a tall, slender goth looking fellow passed by them and Josie immediately stopped drinking her tea. "Oh my God," she whispered.

"What's wrong?"

"That was him....Terrence," Josie pointed.

"Oh....you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm okay...I think," Josie started to fidget.

"Here...take this...hold it for awhile," Willow reached into her pocket and handed Josie a Tiger's Eye gemstone.

"Tiger's Eye," Josie confirmed.

"Yeah, it'll give you strength and courage. I hold it a lot when I'm around Dru...no offense to her. But to help me to stay focused on friendship and being open to her with compassion and strength," Willow said.

"Cool. Thanks, I'm feeling better already."

"Good," Willow gulped some coffee.

A few minutes of silence went by, and then a strange dude who was a little under an average height kept walking back and forth in front of their table staring at Josie. It's just a matter of time, Willow thought.

"Excuse me, Miss, can I ask you a question?" The strange man inquires.

And there it is.

"Sure, what's up," Josie responded.

"Are you a lesbian or are you bi?"

Willow and Josie looked at each other. She couldn't wait to see what Josie's response would be as far as dealing with this man who was obviously horny and looking for a piece of tail that night.

"I'm straight," she said with a straight face. No pun intended.

"Ok, 'cause I'm bi," he said.

Yes, there you go. Bye-bye is what you should be saying, Willow thought.

This man carried on a conversation (mainly with himself) for about thirty minutes while he waited a friend of his to come get him. He bragged about how he just got out of prison the day after Christmas after being in for eighteen months on a possession of cocaine charge. Willow used a protective shield visualization to remove this strange guy from their presence. It worked within just a few minutes! All of a sudden, he had to go because his ride showed up.

"Ok, that was weird," Josie said. "I could tell you were getting pissed."

"Yes, I was," Willow confirmed.

"Why would anyone brag about being in prison or just getting it out?"

"I don't know. Some people are just like that, I guess."

They wrapped up conversation within a few minutes of the strange guy leaving them...finally. They walked out to the parking lot where they had parked side-by-side.

"Are you gonna be okay?"

"Yes, are you?" Willow opened the car door and stuck one foot inside of the car.

"Yeah, I'll be all right. So, I'll see you on Tuesday for Reiki treatment? I need it badly."

"Oh yes, if weather permits, I will be there to hook you up," Willow smiled.

"Ok, cool. Later..."

"Later...and thanks for the coffee and monkey tea," they both laughed.

"No problem, girl," Josie got into her car.

* * *

On the way home, Willow started to cry. God bless her. The woman's in love with one of the best friends she's ever had in her life. She started to wonder, Maybe I made things to difficult for her by telling her how I felt? Well...no, I had to say something. I couldn't just walk around feeling this way about her and not tell her - that would've made my friendship to her a lie. And I care about her too much to lie about how I feel. Wow! God and Goddess, I have absolutely no idea what to do from this point...any ideas?

"Just be her friend...be there for her. Enjoy her friendship. Everything will be fine," a voice said.

Willow shook her head in agreement and made her way home for a good night's sleep before tackling another work week.