IN ANOTHER LIFE

Mrs.Margaret’s Coffee shop Mrs Margaret’s coffee shop sat in the corner of the maple street like it had been there forever .the walls were a warm yellow that never faded ,and the bell on the door always rang softly not loud enough to startle the customers .it was the kind of place people loved and lingered even when they had nowhere to be. Hannah had been a waitress there since she was nineteen . Every weekday she tied on her apron and greeted Mrs Margaret with a warm smile and took her place standing behind the counter .” You know”,she’d say ,shaking her head ,”I don’t know why you hide your beauty like that,you’re a very beautiful girl Hannah don’t forget that “ Hannah never knew how to respond she would always smile and say thank you her cheeks pink and warm from excitement. College had been a dream shared between her and her best friend belly.they had both filled out applications at night ,sitting on belly’s bedroom floor surrounded by papers and half mugs of coffee.NYU had been their biggest dream They both got in but Hannah had to stay back her parents couldn’t afford to send both hannah and her sister. Mara was older, smarter, and already accepted into school. “I told them it was okay”. I meant it, at least back then. Someone had to give something up. So I gave up my dream quietly. I loved fashion. I used to draw dresses on anything I could find old notebooks, receipts, even the back of bills customers didn’t want. I imagined colors before I fell asleep. In my head, I lived in another world. But in real life, I poured coffee.Hannah would always mutter to herself . Eleanor Hales offer : Eleanor hale walked into the coffee shop on a rainy afternoon .she was well dressed ,serious,and didn’t seem like the type who drank coffee for pleasure .Mrs Margaret did well to notice this kind of customers and she did immediately. Eleanor watched Hannah work .the way she spoke kindly to customers .the way she moved careful but confident .and when Hannah finally brought her coffee,Eleanor looked up at her for a long while “You seem..gentle “,she said “I just try to be polite “,Hannah responded Eleanor frequented the coffee shop ,the next day and the next day, and the next . Eventually she walked up to Hannah while she stood behind the counter and asked if she needed an extra work . “My son needs an assistant “ she said carefully.someone patient .someone kind ,it would only be on weekends “. Hannah hesitated,replaying Eleanor’s words in her head .she needed the money badly . “I’ll do it”she finally said . Eleanor nodded,though doubts flickered in her eyes.she truly didn’t believe Hannah could do it ,could help her son.but she looked rather promising .and even fragile hope was better than nothing at all.Hannah was special. The lonely son: Christian hale had no friends.he hasn’t pushed then away they had simply severed connections after the accident .their visits stopped and calls faded .life eventually moved on without them . When Hannah met him for the first time,she understood why Eleanor looked so exhausted all the time .Christian sat in his wheelchair near a large window the view was surreal .his body still,his face blank and machines hummed quietly around him . “So you’re my new assistant “he said flatly “Yes that would be me “ Hannah replied.i would be here on the weekends . He scoffed.”I bet you won’t last like the others “ Well she almost believed him. Christian was older than her,sharper,bitter in a certain way .he didn’t insult her outright but his indifference was worse .still Hannah would manage to show up every weekend ,just like she promised she would. She helped with meals ,read his emails out loud ,adjusted his schedules.sometimes she would talk about the coffee shop ,about Mrs Margaret and About belly living in New York now. Slowly,Christian listened. Cracks in the Wall: Christian had been lonely long before the accident Hannah realized this one quiet Saturday while helping him organize old documents on his laptop .he would often speak about his past but in pieces ,never the full story ,never the good parts ,he would speak about building he never finished ,his friends who slowly stopped calling .days that would turn out lonely and sad blending into each other . “People do not know what to say to someone like me “,he said .” So they say nothing “ Hannah had always been one to always listen quietly .she didn’t argue she just listened ,she just stayed . At first that was what changed him .not her grabs gestures ,not her pity ,just how steady her presence was .she showed up every weekend .at times when the sun would be so unbearable or when it was raining so heavily .she remembered how he like his tea .how he liked his clothes folded .she always spoke to him like he was still part of this world . One afternoon he noticed her sketch book.resting on. The table ,Hannah had brought it by accident she was running late and had not time to put it back so she brought it along anyway . “You always draw when you think no one’s watching “,he said . She blushed ,”he noticed”she muttered to herself “It helps me breath “,she said “May I see” She hesitated,then handed it to him ,he took his time turning the pages ,studying each design carefully . “You’re not just talented”,he said quietly .”you’re brave “ you’re the type who keeps dreaming even when the odds are against you “. No one had ever said that to her before . Something cracked open in her that day. Hannah told belly everything “you’re falling for him “,belly said gently .”i don’t want” to Hannah whispered.belly hadn’t been the type to judge they’ve been friends since preschool .she knew Hannah better than anyone and she could tell she had a soft spot for Christian. Days turned into weeks,Christian started waiting for her visits .he often found himself listening to the sound of her footsteps ,watching the clock in a way he never imagined he could in years .when Hannah was around the house felt less heavy and when she left ,the silence felt louder than before her presence made everything better . One Sunday Eleanor paused outside the living room she had never seen Christian before in that way she watched them laugh together .Christians shoulder were relaxed his eyes were alive .she felt hope and fear at the same time . “This isn’t supposed to be happening “she whispered.but Hannah was different she was special she remembered saying that to herself at the coffee shop . Belly had convinced Hannah to ask Christian out “ you should try taking him out of that lonely house “ she said over the phone “ I bet he has never left that house since the accident “,you can ask him to go to the park with you ,you love the park he would love it too” Hannah hesitated.”I don’t think that’s good idea belly ,he might say no “,she said “Just ask him”belly replied Hannah had mentioned missing the park to Christian .the one near Mrs Margaret’s coffee shop ,the one with the old branches and tall trees .”would you want to come with me “she said “I would think about it “ he said Their first date wasn’t planned .Hannah was seated by the corner of the living room sketching when Christian rolled his wheelchair toward her . “I arranged something “,he said almost nervous . His caregiver helped him set everything up. They went to the park ,late afternoon sunlight falling gently through the trees.Hannah brought sandwiches from the cafe .they sat together ,talking about fashion school,NYU her parents . “It feels normal” Christian said softly. Hannah smiled looking at him “it is normal” That day he felt human again . He stared at her and unexpectedly leaned forward and smiled at her .he used his hands to move few strands of her hair away from her face. “ you’re beautiful Hannah “ he said Hannah smiled He smiled and adjusted “ would you want to see a movie” he asked “Yes”she responded They were watching an old movie ,sitting close but not touching ,Hannah laughed at something funny then turned towards him . They froze . “I shouldn’t “,he whispered “I know “she said But she leaned in anyway ,carefully ,slow ,giving him time to pull way . He didn’t . Their kiss was soft ,unsure ,but it stayed with him long after she left .for the first time in years he didn’t feel invisible. The Things we don’t say Christian had always believed that loving someone meant protecting them from the truth .that was his biggest mistake . Hannah noticed his mood changed “Was it the kiss ,did we take it too far “ she said to her self . Christian was quieter ,distracted .sometimes when she spoke ,he seemed far away ,like his mind was stuck somewhere dark . Belly visited few weeks later .she was bright and direct .everything Christian wasn’t anymore .” So you’re the man who stole my best friend “ she said smiling Christian laughed …actually laughed . The first time in weeks . “You’re scared “Belly said suddenly Christian looked at her surprised “ I don’t scare easily “ “That’s a lie”,she replied gently .”you’re terrified of hurting her “ He said nothing .shifted his gaze like he was afraid of looking straight into her eyes. Belly leaned closer .” What aren’t you telling her ?”,christian swallowed “ if I say it out loud it becomes real “. “ then don’t “she said “You’d end up hurting her if she finds out the truth anyway so don’t hurt her” Christian nodded . Belly left later that evening .Hannah knew they had discussed something important but she preferred not to ask . She continued with her activities for the day .bothered with the thought that Christian changed towards her because of the moment they shared days back . But weeks went by and his mood lightened almost like it returned Back to normal .on the days Hannah would come round work he would quietly watch her laugh and go about her activities. She spoke about her future like it was something he was allowed to be part of .for years he had lived behind emotional walls so thick nothing could reach him .loneliness had become safer than hope. Hannah changed that without trying to. She didn’t treat him like something fragile as others would .she complained about the coffee shop ,she argued with him over movies ,she teased him when he was too serious.she stayed . And that was what broke him . Eleanor noticed the difference “You seem lighter “she said one morning . Christian didn’t answer .Because if he admitted that loving Hannah made him want to live ,he would also have to admit how dangerous that was . Christians body has been betraying him quietly .the shortness of breath he hid.The pain he ignored . Night he woke up afraid he wouldn’t make it to morning .his doctors had warned him that his condition was progressing faster than expected that the emergencies would become more frequent .he told no one not even Eleanor.not Hannah