I groaned as I struggled to shut off my blaring alarm on my bedside, once I hit it with my hand, hearing a satisfying thud as it fell down, thinking it would finally quiet down, how wrong I was, I hid under my pillow and groaned, deciding to wake up. I shut my alarm off, walking to the kitchen and fixing myself a cup of coffee, knowing am going to need it. I did not hate my life, I considered myself lucky, I had a small apartment, I had a job and a close friend who has always been there for me, I may not be rich but I was ok with where my life was. I did not have a boyfriend or anything of that sort, simply because I did not want one. I did believe in love at first sight and was a total romantic, but I guess I had not found my one. I was still a virgin, because I wanted to give it to a person who I loved and who loved me back, my best friend, Avyanna, told me that my thinking was farfetched and that does not happen anymore since we are in the generation z, but I was hopeful, I have had crushes, but I was aa shy being and never got the courage to speak to them or even respond to them when they do speak to me. I worked as baker at a small coffee shop, the owner was an old lady, Mrs. Bessie, she was the sweetest person I met, she had given me the job when I arrived into the city, which was not long ago, I loved her, she was like my grandmother and behaved like it too because sometimes she would bake cookies or cupcakes at her place and would give me some in the morning.

I finished my coffee and decide it was finally time for me to prepare to head for the café. I decided on cladding simple, a blue skinny jeans and a shirt with a grey sweat shirt and a pair of canvas shoes. I had shoulder-length dreadlocks, so I just tied them up in a simple ponytail. I looked myself in the mirror and sighed, I was not on the plus side, I was petite in a way, standing at a height of 5'2 and having a weight of 45 kgs, Avy kept on saying that I need to eat more, build my bones and add more meat and not let my mothers' words affect me and each and every time I would argue with her, that it was not my mother, I just did not have an appetite. My mother was the epitome of perfection, she wanted everything to be perfect, not one inch misplaced, everything spot-on, including her daughter. She took me to ballet when I was 5, joined piano lessons not long after and for some reason she had an obsession with Latin, she would always say that I needed to be the right size, that I have grown too fat and she would put me on a diet. Sometimes I wondered, maybe that may be the reason why there was no dad in the picture, the controlling. I knew she loved me, that I knew, she would still kiss me goodnight, kiss my booboo, make me breakfast in the morning and for my birthday we had a tradition, we would go have dinner and stay at the beach till morning, she cared so I never used to complain, she was my other best friend.

I smiled to myself remembering my mom, I grabbed my sling bag, locked my door and started my walk to the café.

''Good morning darling.'' I heard my neighbor, Mrs. Darcy shout at me.

''Good morning Mrs. Darcy, how was the morning walk today?'' I asked her.

She sighed. I chuckled knowing she is about her walk. Every morning, she walks around three blocks, she told me she used to do them with her late husband so she feels the need to continue doing it, she feels closer to him that way, from the stories she tells me about him and what they used to do, if my relationship with my husband is not like that, I do not want it.

''My walk was interrupted by two dogs and a cat, I was walking peacefully when they run beside me, passing through a puddle and splashing dirty water on my shoes, no manners they have.'' She complained.

I looked at her shoes and true, they were wet and most prolyl there would be an angry brown stain on there.

''They are just dogs, am sure where they are, they are extremely sorry.''

Mrs. Darcy just huffed and went on entering her apartment muttering obscenities.

''Have a good day.'' I bid her goodbye shaking my head and laughing to myself.

I held my bag safely and continued my walk. The neighborhood I lived in was not luxurious and it also was not in the unsafe part of town, it was an ok place, yes there was still cases of petty theft, rape, gang drama and what not, there is no such place as perfect. I loved the place, because it was in the center, it was not far from the café, nor was I far from Avys place, the library. The people were friendly, some of them, I did not blame the rest, life is not getting any easier or cheaper.

I smiled as I felt the morning sun kiss my skin, I may not like waking up in the morning, but every time I think of the atmosphere at that particular time, it is a motivation. People were opening their stores, morning papers were being delivered, children were going to school and men and women rushing to get to their jobs. I believed if there is a time when you want to see the world moving, it is during the early morning hours and early evening hours, if you just take your time to check, you would see it, I loved it. If I were to die, I would want it in the middle of a town center on a Friday evening, the aura is light, the air filled with happiness and smelling of freedom.

I arrived at the café just on time, the bell dinged just as I pushed the door open. I inhaled the smell of coffee as I made my way to the kitchen.

'' Oh, dear, you are finally here.'' Mrs. Bessie exclaimed crushing me in a hug.

I hugged her back just as tight.

''Good morning to you too Caroline.'' I said chuckling.

'' I was so worried, you are usually here five minutes before I open.'' She says letting me go.

I hang my sling bag.

''Well, I run into Mrs. Darcy this morning.'' I said removing my sweatshirt and putting it with my bag.

''That woman is as dramatic as she can get.'' She said throwing her hands in the air.

I let out a laugh. '' As if you are not dramatic.'' I say putting my apron over my head, shaking my head at her.

She raised her eyebrows in pure disbelief.

'' Yesterday you chased a customer away for simply not putting her cup under a coaster.''

She shook her head.

''That there is pure logic, not being dramatic.'' She said shrugging her shoulders.

I rolled my eyes at that.

''I love our morning talk Mrs. Bessie.'' I said cleaning the counter, smirking knowing she will complain about my use of her last name.

''You know I hate that name.'' she said huffing leaving to put up the open sign and write the specials on the board outside.

I was left laughing in the kitchen.

*

I was exhausted, my hands were almost falling off. It had been a marathon today, many people came in ordering the banana cake, hence the bananas running out and me needing to go to the sore and buying some more, exhausting.

I always tell Caro that she needs to hire another person to help around, I could also tell she is not as fast in serving as she used to be, she complains about back ache and her legs, she needed help, we needed the extra hand, it would save as both.

As I finished cleaning up the kitchen, Caro came in, she looked exhausted.

''My feet are killing me.'' She said sitting on a stool.

''Caroline, you may not like this, but we need the help, you need a waiter.'' I told her leaning against the counter.

''Astra.'' She said.

I shook my head.

'' You will break both your legs and you back, you cannot do it any longer by yourself, you need help.''

She sighed and I knew I had won. To say the truth, I expected more than this, that must mean she must really be tired.

''I know, I expected more time.'' She said,

I smiled sadly knowing what she meant.

'' You can do a lot of other things, Caroline.'' I told her, she knew that.

''I know.'' She said.

I walked to her kneeling beside her and giving her a hug, which she returned.

''Let me go, before it gets too late.'' I told her.

She smiled at me.

I grabbed my bag and wore my sweat shirt and left.

I usually take my time walking back home, the place usually is not deserted, so I was comfortable.

The minute I arrived, I cooked some noodles, took a long needed shower and went to bed.

The minute my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light.