Asher was already in Singapore, busy with his own schedule and the new experiences waiting for him there. But no matter how hectic things got, he always made sure to message me and call whenever he had a free moment. It was a small thread connecting us across the distance, and it helped soften the quiet nights.
I kept working. Maybe a part of me hoped that if I stayed busy enough, the loneliness wouldn’t feel so loud. The café was quieter than usual. It was the holiday season, and most people were home with their families. I smiled through it anyway, poured coffee, cleaned tables, and refilled the pastry trays. There was comfort in repetition, in the warmth of brewed coffee and the occasional chime of the door.
Sometimes, I’d glance at the clock and imagine what time it was where Asher w
