The next day, Wisdom arrived at the cafe early to start teaching Freya the ropes. As she entered, she looked both nervous and determined. Wisdom smiled reassuringly and led her behind the counter, showing her the basics of making coffee and handling the equipment.
Throughout the morning, Wisdom served customers while Freya handled the simpler orders, with Wisdom stepping in to guide her whenever necessary. As the cafe grew busier, Wisdom noticed the influx of customers, especially more boys than usual. He chuckled, realizing what the manager had meant about the increase in business.
During a quiet moment, Freya pulled out her laptop and began working on her book. Wisdom, curious, leaned over and asked, "So, could you give me a summary of your story again? I only saw a little last time."
Freya gathered her thoughts and explained, "I'm writing a book about a girl trying to reach her sick friend. Her friend's attitude changed dramatically after a certain accident, and now she blocks any attempts to open up."
"Ahh yes, I remember that, " Wisdom confirms going back to the sink to watch over some plates the customer handed back.
"But have you developed the story and gone into more detail?"
Freya took a deep breath and went back to her notes to read them out. "The main character, Lily, had a best friend named Max who was always cheerful and full of life. However, after a car accident that left Max with a chronic illness, he became withdrawn and distant. Lily, determined to help her friend, tries various ways to reach out to him, but Max pushes her away every time."
She paused, looking at Wisdom for a reaction. He was listening intently, giving a slight nod to carry on.
Freya continued, "Lily doesn't give up. She starts writing letters to Max, sharing memories, jokes, and even her struggles. The letters become a way for her to express everything she wishes she could say to him in person. Over time, she notices small changes in Max—he starts to respond, little by little."
Wisdom smiled. "that's good, I see you're progressing the story."
Wisdom continues. "so she's using the letters to break through his walls, What is the theme?" curious to see how far she has planned.
Freya nodded. "Exactly. It's about persistence and the power of friendship. But it's also about understanding that sometimes, healing takes time and that people cope in different ways."
Wisdom could see the passion in Freya's eyes as she talked about her story. "I think that's something a lot of people can relate to," he said. "It sounds like a story that needs to be told."
Freya smiled, feeling a bit more confident about her writing. "Thanks, Wisdom. It means a lot to hear that."
As the cafe continued to buzz with activity, Wisdom found a moment to glance at Freya's screen while she wasn't looking. He noticed the jumble of words and the awkward sentence structures. Her ideas were incredible, but the writing itself seemed unpolished and in need of serious refinement.
"Hey, Freya," Wisdom said gently. "Would you mind if I took a look at what you've written so far?"
Freya hesitated, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Sure, but it's still a work in progress," she said, giving permission to go and access her laptop.
Wisdom read through a few pages, noting the brilliant ideas but also the clunky execution. He could see that Freya struggled with translating her thoughts into coherent writing. "You've got some great ideas here," repeating what he said last time, looking up at her. "But I think you might need some help with presenting them."
Freya sighed. "I know. I can see the story in my head, but getting it down on paper is so hard. It never comes out the way I want it to."
Wisdom smiled encouragingly. "Don't worry. Everyone struggles with that. The important thing is that you have a strong foundation. Maybe I can help you a bit with the writing part?"
Freya's eyes lit up. "Really? That would be amazing. I've been feeling so stuck."
Wisdom nodded. "Of course. We can work on it together. I can help you structure your sentences better and make your ideas flow more smoothly."
Freya felt a weight lift off her shoulders. "Thank you so much, Wisdom. I've been wanting to write this story for so long, but I didn't know how to make it good enough."
Wisdom handed back her laptop with a reassuring smile. "We'll make it happen. You've got the hard part down—the passion and the ideas. The rest is just technique, and that can be learned."
Freya felt a surge of gratitude and hope. With Wisdom's help, she was confident she could finally bring her story to life.
Freya then looked at Wisdom curiously, tilting her head slightly. "Wisdom, if you don't mind me asking, why are you working here instead of being in college? You're really smart and it seems like you should be pursuing your education."
Wisdom sighed, knowing this question would come up sooner or later. "It's a long story, but you deserve to know. I grew up with my single mother, Rebecca. She got pregnant at a young age, and the man she loved left her. She had to raise me alone, which was tough financially and emotionally. I don't remember much about my dad, but if I ever meet him…" Wisdom stops himself as it pisses him off even thinking about it.
Freya listened intently, nodding for him to continue.
"My mom is incredible. She's always been encouraging, despite everything. But her family blamed her for what happened, calling her decisions foolish. They were very smart, her siblings, and couldn't understand why she threw her future away. She was on her way to prestigious college, you know? But she chose to keep me and face the consequences."
Wisdom paused, gathering his thoughts. "My mom worked as a baker in a busy store. She's always working hard, always sacrificing for me. Seeing what she went through made me determined never to let anyone deceive me like that. I've gotten pretty good at reading people and understanding them.
Freya could see the pain and determination in Wisdom's eyes. "You love your mom a lot," she said softly.
"I do," Wisdom replied. "So much that I sacrificed my education for her. She has been passing out from overworking herself, and her medication is expensive. She made me promise not to worry, but I couldn't focus on college knowing she was struggling. So, I dropped out to help her. My education never meant much to me compared to her well-being."
Freya felt a deep respect for Wisdom's sacrifice. "That's a lot to carry, Wisdom. I'm sorry you're going through this."
Wisdom gave a small smile. "It's okay. It's my choice. I just wanted you to know why I'm here, working instead of studying."
Freya nodded, understanding more about Wisdom's situation. "Thank you for sharing that with me. It helps me understand you better."
Just then, the door to the cafe opened, and Wisdom's mother, Rebecca, walked in. Wisdom froze in shock.
"Wisdom! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at college?" she asked, clearly confused.
Before Wisdom could respond, Freya quickly interjected, "Hi, Mrs. Wisdom. I'm Freya, his classmate. We're working on a project together."
Rebecca's confusion melted into a warm smile. "Oh, it's so nice to meet you, Freya! I'm so glad Wisdom has made friends at Memphis College. Why aren't you in school today, though?"
Freya flashed her student ID badge. "We had a free period, so we decided to get some work done here."
Rebecca beamed. "Well, any friend of Wisdom's is a friend of mine. You should come over sometime! I'd love to bake something special for you."
Wisdom, still reeling from the surprise, quickly intervened. "Mom, Freya's really busy with her studies. Maybe another time."
Rebecca nodded understandingly. "Of course, of course. Well, I won't keep you. It was lovely meeting you, Freya."
After Rebecca left, Wisdom turned to Freya, his face a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. "Thanks for that. I owe you one."
Freya smiled. "No problem. Your mom seems really nice."
Wisdom's expression grew serious. "She is. She's also been through a lot. But thanks for covering for me."
Freya's eyes softened. "It's the least I could do. Your story about your mom and your sacrifices for her…it touches me. It gives me more inspiration for my book."
Wisdom looked at her curiously. "Really? How so?"
Freya took a deep breath. "My friend is very sick and might not make it. I'm writing this book to express how I feel since I can't bring myself to tell her in person. I want to understand my feelings and maybe help others understand theirs too."
Wisdom nodded a new understanding forming between them. "We're both dealing with a lot, huh? Maybe we can help each other out."
Freya smiled, feeling a stronger connection with Wisdom. "Yeah, maybe we can."
As they said their goodbyes, both felt a renewed sense of purpose. They were not just coworkers or friends but allies in navigating their complex lives.
Later that day
As the day went on, Freya balanced learning her new job and working on her book. Whenever there was a lull in the stream of customers, she typed away, crafting Lily's journey of reaching out to Max.
Wisdom watched her from the counter, impressed by her dedication. He saw the parallels between Freya's story and their own lives—how they were all trying to connect and understand each other in their own ways.
Freya's story began to unfold, capturing the small victories and setbacks Lily faced. Each letter she wrote to Max was a testament to her unwavering friendship and hope.
When their shift ended, Wisdom and Freya sat down for a coffee together. "So, what happens next in your story?" Wisdom asked, genuinely curious.
Freya smiled, closing her laptop. "Well, Lily is planning to visit Max and read the letters to him in person. She hopes that hearing her words directly will finally break through his defences."
Wisdom nodded thoughtfully. "I'm sure it will. Sometimes, just being there for someone is the most powerful thing you can do."
Freya looked at Wisdom, appreciating his support. "Thanks, Wisdom. For everything."
He smiled. "Anytime. Now, let's get some rest. We've got another busy day ahead of us."
As they parted ways, Freya felt a sense of fulfillment. Not only was she making progress with her book, but she was also finding new friends and support in unexpected places. With a renewed spirit, she was ready to face whatever challenges came her way, both in her story and in real life.