I sat in the coffee shop, surrounded by people. No one sat alone. They gathered in groups, leaning across round, wooden tables, never taking their eyes off each other for a moment as they peered over their mugs. I chip my nail polish, biting the inside of my lip, staring past my laptop at the empty chair before from me. I glanced behind me at the door. I half expected him to walk through, to walk up behind me, taking me up into his arms, leaving a wet kiss on my cheek. I touched my face with my cold hand, feeling the dry skin beneath my fingers.

            I blinked and felt a drop drag along the side of my nose, following its trail until I tasted salt on my lips. I cried too easily. The table beside me began to laugh. I furrowed my brow, throwing my shoes off and folding my legs onto the chair. Balancing my chin on my knee, I looked at them. They talked over coffee, clasping just a finger beneath the table and crossing their legs within each other’s. I weaved my fingers together, hoping they could warm each other. I wanted to feel the skin between my fingers stretch around his big hands, feel the calluses on his palm. My skin chilled at its own touch.

            I watched the clock swirl on the wall. I struggled to hear the second hand tick, waiting for the last minute to past until 5pm, when I could finally see his face on my screen. The last second passed and the screen lit up. Incoming call: Joey Gallagher. I drew my knees closer under me as I watched his name flash across the screen. I took a breath and pushed in my headphones, twisting each bud in my ear as I looked sideways at the people around me. All I could hear now was the ringing of my computer. I slid my mouse across the screen to Accept. I pulled my arm back behind my legs and waited. What could I say to him this time that I hadn’t already said?

Reject.

            The bottom of my eyes felt heavy and the water weighed on them. The sun lit up the dark wall next to me and I turned my cheek, hoping the light would fall on me next. I twisted in my seat, stretching out towards the sunlight, towards its warmth, but it fell in a puddle behind me, out of reach.