Scene V: Take a Chance
365 Words
Went back to that small café…
but didn’t go inside.
Not yet.
Sat on the stone rails outside.
“Why am I here?”
“What if she’s not there?”
“What would I even get out of this?”
…
Sigh.
Only one way to find out, right?
—
Gerald gets up and walks inside.
Place still looks the same…
just more packed now that evening hit.
He gets in line.
Then he sees her.
And automatically—
he smiles.
She notices him almost instantly.
“Hi!” she says.
“Hi,” he says back.
Simple.
But this time…
his voice doesn’t disappear on him.
“Umm… can I get the turkey sandwich and green tea, please?”
He says it while looking her in the eyes.
Voice clearer than before.
Not arrogant.
Just… sure of himself now.
—
She repeats the order and starts making it.
Once she finishes, Gerald walks over to the cashier to pay and—
“What’s your name?”
She looked up slightly and with a smile—
“Clarissa,” she said.
“…and you?”
“Gerald.”
“Nice to finally meet you properly, Gerald.”
…Finally?
That caught him off guard a little.
“You remembered me?”
Clarissa laughed softly.
“You came in here three days straight ordering hot chocolate.”
…
“Fair enough.”
“And you looked terrified every single time.”
“Okay, now you’re violating me.”
That made her laugh harder.
Not loud.
Just enough to make Gerald smile too.
—
For the first time since walking into that café—
he wasn’t thinking about what to say next.
He was just there.
Present.
Clarissa handed him the green tea and sandwich.
“Well, Gerald… enjoy your not-hot-chocolate.”
He laughed quietly.
“Yeah… I think I finally outgrew it.”
She smiled at that.
And somehow—
that felt bigger than it should’ve.
—
Gerald grabbed his order and headed for the door.
Before leaving, he looked back one more time.
Clarissa waved.
He waved back.
Then stepped out into the cold night air of Boston…
with a smile he didn’t have before.
- Writer
