The strong bitter aroma

of ground coffee beans

drifted in the air, soaking

into my clothes as I made

my way to a table.

Her hand clasped against mine

as she pulled me by the grimy

window that looked out onto an

equally grimy street.

The cafe was decorated to fit

the season's theme. Lights

strung from the ceiling like

drops of rain, a mistletoe

hung from the entry door. A

small murmur of voices

coated the scent of the coffee.

"You really hate coffee, don't you?"

Her voice swooned over the other

voices. "Yet you go to a cafe."

I grabbed a napkin and scribbled

some jumbled words and slid it

across the table. You don't like

the waitress yet you still come

here.

She shook her head as her

curls bounced on her shoulders.

"I like the view," She nodded her

head to her usual spot. "Gives

me perspective."

And I like you.

I wrote in a sloppy handwriting

but before passing it to her,

I quickly scribbled on it.

"Hey, that's not fair. Show

me what you wrote," she

poked my cheek.

I shook my head.

"Well then. Hey, listen, that's

my favorite Christmas song!

Let's dance." She stood up

and pulled my hand, dragging

me to the jukebox. Her eyes

glistened with joy, for once.

"You know, Charlie, you

made this Christmas worthwhile."

I raised an eyebrow at her but

a smile soon spread across

my lips.

"I'm serious. If it wasn't for you,

I'd be making headlines tomorrow."