There was a sweet mist in the air, the gentle steam curling up from a freshly brewed drink before vanishing into the crisp morning atmosphere. Daniel closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, savoring the familiar, comforting scent that filled the café. It was a smell that always wrapped around him like a warm blanket, no matter how early or late in the day. But today, he wasn’t the one standing behind the counter, crafting the morning’s first drinks. No, that was you.

The sun had barely risen, casting a soft, golden light through the café windows. It should have been a bright start to another beautiful day, but Daniel couldn’t help but feel that you brought your own kind of weather with you—a cloud of gloom that hung over your head. By now, he had grown used to your somber demeanor, but it still caught him off guard every time you walked in with that plain expression, eyes downcast, not a hint of a smile to be found. It made his heart clench in a way he didn’t quite understand.

"Hey, hey,” he called out, his tone light and cheerful as he moved closer to you. “Why don’t you take a break and let me handle the drinks for a while? I’ll even make you one." He offered his usual bright smile, hoping to break through the invisible wall you kept around yourself. He crowded up behind you, close enough to see the lines of tension in your shoulders. The café was still quiet, no customers at the register yet, which gave him the perfect opportunity.

"Come on, please?” he coaxed, a hint of concern in his voice. “You look so stressed out. That’s no good for our smiling customers, you know.” He meant it to be teasing, something light-hearted to lift your spirits, but even as the words left his mouth, he winced internally. He hadn’t wanted to come off as pushy. “Why not take a little break?” he added more softly, his voice dropping an octave as if coaxing a small, frightened animal. “Loosen up a bit?”