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Waking up had never felt more dull. Gazing out at the gray sky, clouds heavy over the city,
Aspen Whittaker felt nothing but dread and hopelessness. His heart had always felt as heavy as
those clouds.
Aspen hated Saturdays. He couldn’t go to school, so he didn’t have anything to do except
lock himself in his room until his mom went out again. He decided he would go to his favorite
coffee shop and read for a while. It was better than staying home, at least.
He got up, dressed himself in some jeans and an old sweater, and carefully did his hair. He
retrieved his book and his wallet from the bedside table where they always sat, and headed out the
door without a word to his mom who was passed out on the couch.
The bustle of the streets of Brooklyn was overwhelming, but he had no problem navigating.
Four blocks from his apartment, he turned the corner and pulled open the door to the coffee
shop, a breeze enveloping him.
Aspen approached the counter and ordered his usual black coffee. He fished in his wallet
for cash to pay for it. He counted his bills and began to panic; he knew they wouldn’t just let it
slide; the world wasn’t so kind that way.
“I’m sorry, I’m a dollar short,” he confessed.
The barista shrugged. “I dunno what to tell ya, son. Either you pay or ya leave without your
coffee.”
He couldn’t go back home; his mom would be waking up hungover, and she would
probably kick him out after she woke up anyway.
He stuttered, “I-”
“Hi, can I pay for his drink?” A girl who looked about Aspen’s age stepped forward from
behind him.
“Sure hon,” the barista eyed Aspen up and down before ringing up the girl for his drink.
“Wait, no, you really don’t have to do that,” he felt his cheeks grow hot.
“It’s no problem, I got it!” the girl said with a smile as the barista handed her the change.
Her smile looked like the sun breaking through the clouds on a spring morning.
Aspen stood there in shock as the girl ordered her own drink.
“Why did you do that?” he asked her as she came over to the other counter to wait for
their drinks.
“I overheard, and you looked so panicked when the barista told you to pay or leave, so I
wanted to help!”
She was like a walking exclamation point.
But . . .” Aspen protested, “You don’t even know me, why do you care?”
“I just do, I guess,” she made eye contact with him “Doesn’t everyone deserve to be treated
with kindness?”
There are plenty of people in this world who don’t deserve kindness he thought. Including
me.
But out loud he said, “I guess,”
“You know, a simple ‘thank you’ would have been fine,” she laughed.
“I-” Aspen started to say something in defense, but then relented. “Thank you,”
“You’re welcome,” she gave him that sunny smile again, and handed him his drink.
“Here.”
He hadn’t even realized their drinks were ready; he’d been too distracted by the fact that
this girl contradicted everything he thought he knew about the world.
“Sorry, I have to go,” she said, picking up her own drink, which looked just as sweet as her
personality. “What’s your name though? I’m so sorry I forgot to ask.”
“Aspen,” he said.
“I love that name,” she said, giving him another warm smile. “It was nice to meet you,
Aspen,”
She sounded like she had actually meant it.
“Bye!” she waved at him as she walked out, leaving Aspen stunned.
“Wait!” he called out to her as she was pulling open the door. “What’s your name?”
“Bianca,” she said.
“It was nice to meet you too, Bianca,” he said, surprising himself.
She gave him one last bright smile, “I hope we meet again soon!” she said, and breezed out
of the shop.
Aspen went to that coffee shop again and again hoping to see her, but he never got to see
that bright smile ever again. He wished he could tell her how she gave him hope that day. This
stranger, who paid for his coffee on a whim, had given him hope that amidst the cruelty of the
world, kindness still remained.