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forward. You catch a glimpse of fur disappear inside a small café just
ahead. You break into a slow jog and in no time a soft chime
announces your entrance into the café.
It is not as nice as your coffee shop, but at least it is warm inside.
You wonder why someone like Sabrina would come to a place like this.
You decide to take a seat by the window. Your eyes scan the room,
searching at every table for her. You can’t seem to see her anywhere.
Perhaps it was your imagination after all, to think you had actually
encountered her…
“Oh, hello again.”
Your head jerks up at the sound of her voice, and yes, it is her
again. You look into her eyes. You must say something, but words
escape you. What is there to say?
“Can I take your order?” she prompts.
Your eyes drift from her face to the light blue waitress uniform
she wears, then to the small name tag clipped to her collar.
Claire
.
“You really don’t say much, do you?” Claire says with a smile, “I’ll
pop back in a few minutes then, when you’ve made up your mind.”
Sabrina no,
Claire
, hurries off to take another order as you sit in
disbelief.
’
That night, like every other night, Claire walks all the way home.
Her grandmother’s coat the only thing separating her pale skin
from the bitter cold air. It may as well be the most valuable thing
she owns. The walk is long, and she pulls the coat tighter around
her, wishing she had boots, or a scarf, or gloves. She is puffing by the
time she reaches her building, wheezing from the frost that
constricts her lungs. She climbs the rickety stairs which lead to her
small apartment. She opens the door to her home. Inside is a bed, a
table, a single chair and a small basin above which the yellowed
wallpaper is beginning to peel. Claire takes off her coat and carefully
drapes it across the tabletop. It is much too extravagant for someone
like herself, but then, it protects her from the cold, and keeps others
from knowing the truth.
Her life is an ordinary one.
‘
Sonder
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