The stranger in the cafe

Prologue

"Hey, open your eyes, don't close them,'' his voice is like a beautiful melody but the more I try to keep them open, the harder they become.

"You are crying," I reach for his beautiful face and wipe a drop of tear from his cheek. He grabs my hand and the fire that erupts out of me from his touch hits me like a flash.

I feel so many things right now but the only thing my head seems to be focusing on is the pain in my chest. I feel like I can't breathe, it hurts so much.

He is holding me.

I don't want him to let go.

I love him so much.

"Baby, just keep your eyes open, just stay awake for me. I will get you to a hospital,'' he tells me, slowly lifting me up in his arms. The pain intensifies as he carries me on his feet.

There is a light, one so bright and it seems to be pulling me away, the more he moves, the more it hurts.

"It hurts," I cry, desperate for him to stop moving.

He doesn't want to accept this but it already feels like it is over. I already know that I am losing him. I don't want to go but there is a pull and I don't know how to stop it.

He stops moving but doesn't let go of me. his touch is the only comfort I have right now. The only comfort I need. I know that everything ends, so I know that this moment will end.

"Hey, you have to keep your eyes open. You have to stay away with me,'' he begs me. the desperation is unlike anything I have ever heard before. I want to listen to him but I just can't. The more I try, the harder it is for me.

Stay awake.

Be with him.

"It's so cold,'' I tell him "Please help me,'' I beg, in addition.

He shakes his head and I see the difficulty he is facing.

"Fuck Harley, you can't die on me. I am not going to let you go,'' he begs me as the tears fall from his face. it seems like there is more to what he is saying but I don't understand what he means. I don't even know what is happening.

Is this how I go?

Am I dying?

"No, you are not fucking dying, I saved you once and I will fucking do it again,'' he shouts. I didn't even know that I said it out loud. I don't know what is happening built I am so scared. I love him so much and I don't want to let him go. I am not ready to let him go.

"Please don't let me go," I beg him as he grabs my hand in his. his squeeze is gentle, he is afraid to hurt me but I am already hurt.

"I just want the pain to stop, please make it stop,'' I beg him because it feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest. I don't even know how this happened. One minute I was coming to see him and the next minute, I was on the ground.

"I will make this stop. I will save you,'' he tells me and the last thing I see is a bright light in the form of a ball. It is glowing and bright but that is somehow all I can see.

I watch as the ball of light travels closer to me and I watch as it enters me. it feels like a rush. It feels like nothing I have ever felt in all my life, but the pain stops. The pain stops and suddenly he is all I see.

"I am so sorry Har, this is all my fault,'' he cries in my arms.

Everything feels numb.

Life is slipping from me and I can feel it.

"I love you, Ryker, I will always love you,'' I confess honestly. we spent a short time together but I will never forget the happiness he brought to me.

I will never forget him.

As the light in my arms vanishes, I smile in his arms because even in death, I am glad he is the one with me.

Chapter One

1960

Harley

The sun is shining hot today as I walk out of the house and in the direction of the café. The same café I have been going to for six months. My backpack is over my shoulders and it is heavy. So heavy because of all the books inside.

"Don't forget dinner at six,'' my sister calls out to me loudly as leave the front door. I look up and sure enough, her head is peeping out a window with a smile on her face.

Father will be back from the army.

Finally.

It has been a year since we saw him. there is this uncertainty and fear that has been looming over us all year. No one knows. One day, we will get his letter, and the next day he could just be gone. I don't want to feel that way but that is just how I have always been.

A pessimist.

A worrywart.

Whatever you want to call it.

He did this on his own, not some mandated calling from the government. One moment, we were having dinner together and the next, he was telling us that he was going back to the army. My father is like my best friend. he is the one person in my family that understands me. He is the only one that gets me and I didn't take it well.

Even till now, I have nightmares.

Till now, I am so pissed at him for leaving even though he did this for the good of the country. I should be pleased that he is a hero, I should respect him even more but I still hate him for leaving.

He is coming back.

Okay, I should be happy.

That is all that matters right now.

I walk all the way to the café. It is a little café close to my house. there are a total of like ten tables. I have been a regular since they opened up about a year ago. It has been a good escape from everything.

I come here to read and get an escape from my house. My mother is a handful and ever since dad left, she has become worse. She is all over me and I just can't seem to get along with her. Nothing I ever do is good enough for her and frankly, I have even stopped trying. It is hard to be the kind of person she wants because that person doesn't exist.

Except she does.

Charlotte is the closest thing to perfect and I can't live up to her. I have never been able to live up to her.

From high school, she has always known what she wanted to do, known who she wanted to be. Getting into med school was a give in for her. living the life that a parent would be proud of and here I am, studying for my GED because I got expelled from school. I have been a failure and my mother doesn't ever stop reminding me.

I enter the café and Mateo greets me with a wide smile. the seats of the café are red but somehow, over the months, they have faded from what they originally were, the lights are bright and kinda inviting but there is just one light bulb that won't stop flickering.

I have asked Mateo to change it but he just smiles anytime I point it out "Your light is doing that thing again,'' I remind him again.

"What thing?'' he smiles, almost acting too oblivious.

I drop my bag on the table in front of him and sit down on the stool. The AC hits me just above and I close my eyes for a second.

"Are you actually going to study today or should I just forget about the coffee?'' he asks as he wipes a spill on the table.

"You know I have to.''

He scoffs "You have to but you never do, something always distracts you,'' he retorts.

I roll my eyes even though I know that he is right. I have this thing, where I look at people around me and cook up scenarios.

"Well, it is not my fault that there is just so much entertainment in this café. I can't help but find something else.''

He walks away from me without a response and I watch him as he grabs the coffee cup over to me "Here you go kid,'' he smiles and pours some of the liquid into my glass.

Mateo is the owner of the café but somehow, he works harder than the staff. He is in his late fifties and should have retired by now but he says it is good for him to keep working.

Good for his health.

Meh.

"I open my bag and pour out my books like I usually do. maybe I am just deceiving myself but I at least want to try. I want to do better; I want to be better but what happened six months ago was not my fault. My mother might say that I am the only cause of my problems but I didn't know what else to do.

I didn't want to be expelled.

The door dings open just as I take a sip of my coffee and a man walks in. he is dressed in all black. A black pair of pants, a black shirt, and a coat. His hair is long, his eyes are brooding. I know it is not good to stare but there is a pull, one that I can't seem to get out of.

I haven't ever seen anyone like him, that must be the reason why I can't look away.

Right?

Something about this man is different. That must be why I am so curious. His eyes are a bright blue, the kind that will give the ocean a run for his money. For a second, as he walks in, our eyes meet and I feel the hair on my arms rise. My heart beats heavily in my chest, it almost feels like I am having a heart attack.

He looks away and I face my books.

Shit.

"Who is that?" I ask Mateo quietly.

My eyes find the man as he walks into the café and takes an empty seat. He doesn't look at me again and I am glad. I don't know if I can handle his stare again.

"No one you should concern yourself with. He is just passing through,'' his words are cold, which is unlike Mateo. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body. Mateo has been the only one that has helped me through everything that I have gone through.

"Does he come here often?''

"He has been in town for a week. expect him gone before the end of the week," he tells me. I don't know how someone that explain something and also leave a lot out.

I don't know why I am curious but there is just something about him that makes me want to know more. it is stupid but Mateo hasn't given me anything.

"Oh," I manage, unsure of what to say. My eyes find their way back to him and this time, he is watching me. I can't read his expression—frankly, I just can't figure him out. I don't know what he is thinking.

Shit.

I feel my heart thumping against my chest.

I look away from the mystery man and face my books. That is what I need to do. Read, because I have to pass this exam. I cant continuously be a disappointment to my mother, especially now that my father is coming back home.