Carmen had been gazing out the window, lost in her own thoughts, for almost an hour. She’s been sitting in the coffee shop for about two. It was a Tuesday morning, and, as usual, Carmon had ventured into her favorite, and smallest, coffee shop in Mayville. But today was especially challenging. Today, she needed to make a decision, one that would change her life. 

“Mabel's Mug” was owned by the sweet elderly woman, Ms. Mabel Bennett. After the passing of her husband, she transformed her little corner house into a coffee shop to make ends meet. Ms. Mabel had a natural talent for baking, and her homemade pastries, sold alongside her coffee, quickly made her shop a favorite among the townspeople. Carmen had been going to Mebel’s since she was a girl, and the pastries were the one thing that kept her from ever considering visiting a different shop in town, even as new ones opened. 

The shop was run with elegance. Ms. Mabel, with the help of her daughter and a high school girl who was always seen with a smile and knew Carmen's order by heart- a medium coffee with two sugars, two creams, and a chocolate pastry. Even with the shop's small size and the constant stream of customers coming and going, it was never too loud or too crowded. The house itself had character, which was part of what Carmon loved about the place. It was the kind of house that seemed a little out of place from the rest of town. Its yellow color and slightly slanted framework gave the house a unique sense of welcoming. The wraparound porch, with its chipped white paint and matching sets of tables and chairs, made it a perfect spot for a cool summer afternoon. 

Despite the small footage, the inside was open and spacious. There were couches and chairs arranged around tables, all strategically placed so that there was not too much or too little space between them. The counter was small enough to hold a single person behind and contained a small glass window that showcased the fresh pastries. Behind it, a door frame led into the kitchen. 

Carmon, who was nursing a by now-cold cup of coffee, watched as the rain turned into flurries, sending a slight shiver down the spine of her back. She shifted closer to the fireplace, which Mabel always had going during the cold months of winter. Years ago, she had made a deal with Mr. Montgomery across the way, who owned quite a bit of land and sold Christmas Trees for a living. He offered firewood in exchange for free coffee and pastries whenever he stopped by.  It had been that way for as long as Carmon could remember, and both seemed perfectly content with the arrangement.

Everything about the shop was comforting: The dimly lit room, the old untouched books, the discoloration in the wallpaper, and the slight smell of pine. Normally these small oddities brought Carmon a sense of peace. Today, however, she felt restless. Her body is in a constant state of discomfort. She had come earlier than she needed to before meeting her friend Lila. Hoping some time alone in a familiar place would bring clarity to the difficult decision ahead. They had friends since preschool, growing up together, sharing every milestone. Everything they needed or ever wanted was in this little town, or so they were told. Lila was perfectly content with her life and what she had, never once considering leaving Mayville. To her it was home, all she'd ever known, and leaving it never crossed her mind. 

As the snow picked up, Carmon glanced around the room, searching for an answer to her lingering question. Conversations hummed about the room in soft murmurs, blending into the background. A elderly man sat at a table near the counter, his nose and attention completely absorbed in a book. She observed him for a moment. Each wrinkle of his face and hands as he flipped each page with a slow, impetuous rhythm. His glasses sit low on the edge of his nose, constantly needing adjustment. 

He seemed content, and Carmen wondered if he really was. Maybe he felt unfulfilled like he had missed his chance to leave a long time ago and always regretting it. Or maybe he accepted his life for what it was. Like her, maybe he felt stuck, too afraid to leave what he's always known. 

Across from the man, sat a young couple, their voices hushed but sharp. Each word meant to cut the other, a tension hung in the air between them. Carmen could sense the irritation and discomfort they shared. They didn’t argue, but those unspoken words lingered, heavy as a noose around their necks. The woman focused her attention on the newspaper as the man slowly sipped his coffee in silence, his jaw set.

 Carmen wondered about their relationship. Maybe staying together wasn’t what they wanted. It was just easier than confronting their problems. Maybe the woman was afraid of being alone, and the man was afraid of change. Carmen took a bite of her pastry, her thoughts and feelings still in constant disarray. 

She couldn’t help but think, and compare her situation to theirs. That they were faced with a decision that mirrored hers. To stay or to leave? Was she really so different from them? Was it wrong to stay in one place just because it's easier? Or should she leave, to find something more? Was she right to waver? 

Carmen took a long sip of her coffee. The coldness engulfed her entire body, cooling the depths of her worry, if only for a little while. Her eyes fell on a pair of girls, quietly giggling together on the carpet as their mothers gossiped about their husbands. The girls reminded her of Lila and their shared childhood. They had always been different from each other but were always inseparable. Lila had always been the more social and outgoing one. She was carefree, with a lightness about her that drew people in. Carmen, on the other hand, was quieter, always keeping to herself. She would never start a conversation and never disagreed with anyone. She was always nervous about one thing or another, constantly caught up in her own head. 

In some ways, they balanced each other out. Lila did most of the talking, while Carmen sat and listened. There were no secrets between them, Carmen could never keep one anyway.  She had always found it incredibly easy to talk to Lila. That's why she couldn't quite understand why she was so worried about meeting her. 

Lila!

Carmon watched through the window, the wind blowing Lila’s dark hair. The door creaked softly as she stepped inside, her cheeks and nose a slight rose color. Her coat, a deep shade of blue, and its thick, worn fabric laced with snow, wrapped perfectly around her slender frame.  The room seemed to recognize her arrival, becoming smoother and warmer. Her eyes clear and steady, scanned the room with precision and grace. They locked eyes, and Lila smiled. Emanating the sun. 

“Hello gorgeous” Lila was still smiling effortlessly and Carmen felt her chest ache.

“Hi Lila,” Carmen said, her voice a little too soft. 

Lila slid into her usual spot next to Carmen. Her eyes were warm and gentle, watching her with a delicate curiosity. “What's wrong, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” 

Carmen tried to speak, but the words stuck in the back of her throat. She had spent the entire day thinking of what to say and now that the time had finally come, she couldn’t say anything. She watched Lila’s expectant gaze, trying to form the words, but failing. What could she say? 

“I’m just thinking,” Carmen said after a moment. She had been thinking constantly. She traced the rim of her coffee cup, with her finger, hoping Lila wouldn’t ask, but knowing she would. She always did. 

“What about?” She asked innocently. 

 Carmen opened her mouth, but nothing came out. The silence between them was suffocating, yet still. She looked at Lila, really looked at her. She didn’t utter a word, only stared meeting her gaze. The corners of her eyes watered slightly, conveying everything she wanted to say, everything she needed to say but couldn’t. Lila simply smiled.  

“It’s ok,” Lila said gently, each word a delicate echo, lingering like a soft melody.  

The air around them settled with understanding. Lila gave Carmen a sincere expression and just like that, all the noise and thoughts reverberating in Carmen's head went quiet. The weight of stress repelled itself from her body, leaving nothing but peace. As the snow outside settled, Carmen sat there, next to her best friend, each of them sipping their coffee.