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Streya sat outside her favorite coffee shop letting out a long sigh. She looked up at the clouds and just relaxed in the sun. Slowly she closed her eyes enjoying the heat and silence around her. She took a slow sip of her coffee, the cool drink relaxing in the summer. She had nothing planned and no one was around to distract her yet.
She heard a small noise above her and let out another heavy sigh. She assumed someone had shown up and was going to ask her to move. Instead she heard a small plop in front of her and sat up straight. She stared at her drink as the liquid in the cup bubbled in front of her. She kept her eyes wide as a small face finally surfaced in the cold and sweet liquid.
“A little help!” the person shouted. Streya jumped as they fell beneath the surface again and quickly used her free hand to pull them out. They sputtered as she dangled them above the cup.
“Sorry, it’s not every day a tiny person lands in your food ,” she said. The little person started to panic in her grip once they looked at her. She couldn’t hold back her own curiosity and pulled them closer to her face. She flipped her hand over to drop them in her palm instead of dangling over the air. “How did you get so small?”
“I-uh-I-well-um,” they stammered.
She tilted her head and brought her hand a bit closer. She could hear the bustle of customers leaving the coffee shop. The little person covered their head and curled up in her hand. She curled her fingers over them which made them yelp. She was curious about this little person. She set her coffee down on the bench next to her and brought her hand up to the small person. Her finger alone was almost half their height. She poked them which brought out another yelp. Terrified eyes staring up at her.
“B-big!” they squeaked. She frowned as small eyes continued to stare at her. The little person started to shake in her hand. She sighed, shocked by the way her breath blew their clothes and hair around. She knew she was big, but hearing how much it scared this person hurt. She wouldn’t hurt them, she wouldn’t hurt anyone.
“You’re small,” she whispered. They curled in on themself. She wanted to calm them down. She started trying to rub their back, they shook more. She pulled her finger back and started to stand up. “Maybe we should head back inside, at least to get you cleaned up.”
“No! Please!” She froze, the little person was gripping her fingers tightly. She lowered herself back to her seat and pulled them closer to her face. She could just barely see the tears on their face. “I-I’m not supposed to be seen.”
“Oh… Should I pretend I didn’t see you?” They looked at her with wide eyes. She didn’t know what they were thinking. She wanted to ask them so many questions. The way they shook kept her from rambling, she wanted to help them calm down. “I can put you down, or should I bring you somewhere?”
“I… I don’t know where I am…A bird caught me, I only just got away…”
Streya’s heart broke with their voice. She moved her hand quickly and placed them against her chest. She held them tightly and just sat in silence for a bit. They eventually relaxed into her hold and she pressed down the slightest bit more. After a few minutes she looked down and cupped her hand so she could see them again.
“Why don’t you come back to my place? We can figure something out there,” she offered. The small person curled their hands into fists while gripping her shirt. She found it a bit cute. They looked up at her with a determined look and nodded. She smiled and started to stand up.
“Wait, can.. Can you hide me?” they asked. She smiled and pulled her hand away.
“I can, but I’m going to have to put you in my pocket , is that ok?”
They just nodded at her. She carefully pulled them back from her chest and pulled open the pocket of her flannel shirt. She slipped her hand in and slowly tilted it until the little person started to slide off. They looked terrified, but it seemed worse to pinch their sides and set them down. Once they slid off her hand completely she let the pocket closed and pressed her hand against her chest. A few people came around the coffee shop, she’d managed it just in time.
Streya quickly grabbed her coffee and food then turned to leave. She would make sure the little person got home safely. She hoped they would let her ask some questions once they figured out where their home was. She had so many questions, of course most were just about how they even lived being so small. For now she just kept patting her pocket as they passed crowds and promising they were safe as she walked.