The Walk Home
1844 Words
The night had already settled over the city by the time Amelia began her shift at the café.
It had been a long day.
Classes had taken up most of her afternoon, and by the time she finished everything she needed to do on campus, she had barely had enough time to rest before heading to work.
Still, she had shown up.
She always did.
Working at the café was not something Amelia had imagined herself doing when she first entered university. She had once imagined her university years being filled with studying, making memories with friends, and preparing for the future.
Life had turned out differently.
After losing her parents, she had learned that dreams sometimes had to share space with responsibilities.
She had to pay her school fees.
She had to support herself.
She had to help her grandparents whenever she could.
Most importantly, she had a promise to keep.
Her parents' final words remained with her every day.
Finish your studies.
Make us proud.
Those words had become more than memories.
They had become her motivation.
Whenever she felt exhausted, she remembered them.
Whenever she wondered whether all the hard work was worth it, she remembered them.
And whenever she wanted to give up, she reminded herself that giving up was something she could not afford to do.
So that night, despite the tiredness in her body, Amelia tied her apron around her waist, pulled her hair neatly back, and began working.
The café was moderately busy.
People came in groups, ordered their meals, talked among themselves, and occasionally laughed loudly enough for everyone around them to hear.
Amelia moved from table to table with a polite smile.
"Good evening. What would you like to order?"
A customer gave her his order.
She wrote it down carefully.
"Anything else?"
"No, that's all."
"Okay. I'll bring it right out."
She smiled before walking away.
It was the kind of routine she had become accustomed to.
Take the order.
Deliver the food.
Clear the table.
Clean up.
Repeat.
Hours passed without her realizing it.
Every now and then, she checked the clock.
She knew she had a long night ahead of her.
It was her night shift, which meant she would be one of the last people to leave the café.
Normally, there would be several other staff members working with her.
But as the night progressed, one person after another finished their shift and left.
"Good night, Amelia."
"Good night."
"See you tomorrow."
"See you."
Another employee grabbed her bag.
"Don't stay too late."
Amelia smiled.
"I won't."
The employee laughed.
"You always say that."
Amelia laughed softly.
"I'll try."
Soon, the café became quieter.
Most of the staff had gone home.
Only Amelia and her boss remained.
Her boss was a kind woman who had always treated Amelia well.
She knew Amelia's circumstances.
She knew that Amelia was a university student.
She knew that Amelia worked hard to pay her school fees.
And she understood that the young woman had gone through more than most people her age could imagine.
Because of that, she often tried to make Amelia's work easier whenever she could.
She never treated her like she was less important because she was a student.
Instead, she encouraged her.
"You work too hard sometimes," she would tell Amelia.
And Amelia would always give the same answer.
"I have to."
Her boss understood.
She knew there was a story behind those words.
That night, however, neither of them knew how late the shift would become.
---
Around 11:30 p.m., Amelia was carrying a tray toward one of the tables when her boss's phone began ringing.
Her boss looked at the screen.
It was her husband.
She immediately answered.
"Hello?"
Amelia continued working.
At first, her boss's expression was normal.
Then, slowly, her face changed.
"What?"
She listened carefully.
"You've already left?"
Another pause.
"Where are you going?"
She looked worried.
Amelia glanced at her.
Something was obviously wrong.
Her boss moved a little farther away from the customers.
"What about our son?"
She listened.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"You can't take him with you?"
Another pause.
"Okay."
She sighed.
"Yes. I'll come home."
She listened for another moment.
"I'll be there soon."
Then she ended the call.
She stood there holding her phone for a few seconds.
Amelia approached her.
"Ma'am?"
Her boss looked up.
"Yes?"
"Is everything okay?"
Her boss nodded, though she still looked concerned.
"My husband has to go out for some work."
"Oh."
"Our son is with him."
Amelia listened.
"He says he can't take our son where he's going, so I need to come home and take care of him."
Amelia immediately understood.
"Then you should go."
Her boss looked around the café.
"That's the problem."
Amelia followed her gaze.
There were still several customers inside.
Five or six people were scattered around the tables.
Some were eating.
Others were talking.
One was waiting for an order.
Her boss sighed.
"I can't just leave them here."
Amelia looked at the clock.
11:30 p.m.
It was already very late.
She knew her boss was caught between two responsibilities.
Her family needed her.
But the café still had customers.
Her boss looked at Amelia.
"What am I going to do?"
Amelia thought for a moment.
Then she said quietly,
"Go home."
Her boss blinked.
"What?"
"Go home and take care of your son."
"But the customers..."
"I'll handle them."
Her boss stared at her.
"Amelia, it's already late."
"I know."
"And you'll have to close the café alone."
"I can do it."
Her boss hesitated.
"Are you sure?"
Amelia nodded.
"Yes."
She gave her boss a reassuring smile.
"There are only a few customers left. I'll serve them, clean up, and close the café."
Her boss still looked uncertain.
"I don't want to leave you alone."
"I'll be okay."
Amelia had already made up her mind.
Her boss looked at her for a moment longer.
Then she smiled.
"Thank you."
"It's okay."
"No, it isn't. You're doing me a huge favor."
Amelia shook her head.
"You don't have to worry about it."
Her boss picked up her handbag.
"Please be careful when you're going home."
"I will."
"And call me when you get home."
"I promise."
Her boss nodded.
"Thank you again."
Amelia smiled.
"You're welcome."
Her boss gave her one last look before leaving.
The door closed behind her.
Amelia watched her walk away.
Then she turned toward the remaining customers.
She took a breath.
"Okay."
She straightened her apron.
"Let's finish."
---
The next twenty minutes passed quickly.
Amelia focused on the customers.
She served each order carefully.
She apologized whenever there was a delay.
She checked the tables.
She collected plates.
She wiped down surfaces.
She did not allow herself to become distracted by how late it was.
One customer looked at the clock.
"It's almost midnight."
Amelia smiled politely.
"Yes."
"You aren't tired?"
She laughed softly.
"I am."
"Then why are you still smiling?"
Amelia shrugged.
"It's part of the job."
The customer smiled.
"You're hardworking."
"Thank you."
She walked away.
Inside, however, Amelia was already thinking about home.
She wondered whether her grandparents were awake.
They probably weren't.
Her grandmother usually went to bed early.
Her grandfather did too.
Amelia knew that when she finally arrived, she would probably have to quietly open the door so she wouldn't wake them.
The thought made her smile.
She missed them.
Even though their home was close to her parents' former home, everything had changed after her parents' death.
She still remembered the first night she slept at her grandparents' house.
She had cried until she had no tears left.
Her grandmother had stayed beside her.
She hadn't tried to force Amelia to stop crying.
She simply stayed.
That had meant everything.
Amelia had slowly learned how to live again.
Not because the pain disappeared.
It never completely did.
But because she had something to live for.
Her future.
Her education.
The promise.
She looked around the café.
Only a few customers remained.
She continued serving them.
Finally, one of them stood up.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Another customer paid.
"Have a good night."
"You too."
One by one, they left.
Amelia watched the final customer step outside.
She waited until the door closed.
Then she looked at the clock.
11:50 p.m.
She was finally alone.
Amelia released a tired breath.
"Finally."
She looked around.
There was still some cleaning to do.
She quickly got to work.
She arranged the chairs.
She wiped the tables.
She checked the counter.
She made sure everything was in order.
She cleaned what needed cleaning and put everything back where it belonged.
Afterward, she went around the café to make sure nothing had been forgotten.
Then she switched off the lights.
One by one.
The bright café slowly became dark.
Amelia picked up her bag.
She walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she looked around one final time.
Everything was fine.
She locked the door.
She checked it again.
Then she pulled the handle.
Locked.
She nodded.
"Okay."
She stepped away from the café.
And suddenly, the quietness of the night surrounded her.
---
Outside, the atmosphere was completely different.
There were no customers.
No music.
No conversations.
No bright café lights.
Only the dark streets and the occasional sound of a distant vehicle.
Amelia looked down at her phone.
She needed transportation.
Normally, she would call a cab or request a ride.
She opened her phone and tried.
The network was poor.
She waited.
Nothing.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
Amelia frowned.
"Seriously?"
She moved a little farther from the café.
Maybe the signal would improve.
She tried again.
Nothing.
She attempted to make a phone call.
The call failed.
She tried another number.
Still nothing.
She looked at the time.
11:55 p.m.
She didn't want to stay outside the café any longer than necessary.
She tried the ride request one more time.
Nothing.
Amelia sighed.
Her grandparents' home wasn't extremely far.
She could walk.
It wasn't ideal at that hour, but she knew the route.
She had walked it many times during the day.
So she adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder.
"Okay."
She began walking.
At first, she wasn't too worried.
She knew the road.
She kept her phone in her hand in case the network returned.
Her footsteps were quiet against the pavement.
She walked steadily.
Every now and then, she looked behind her.
Nobody.
She turned forward again.
The road remained quiet.
A vehicle passed.
Then another.
Amelia kept walking.
She tried to distract herself by thinking about school.
Her classes.
Her assignments.
The semester.
The promise.
She smiled faintly.
Her parents would have been proud of her.
She wished they were still alive to see how far she had come.
She wished her mother could see her working.
She wished her father could see that she had kept her word.
A sudden sadness passed through her.
She lowered her eyes.
"I miss you," she whispered.
Then she continued walking.
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