Ava slowly opened her eyes, the warm sunlight streaming through the window and casting a gentle glow on her face. She stretched, yawned, and sat up in bed, running her hands through her tangled hair.
As she swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet dangled in the air, searching for her slippers. She spotted them peeking out from under the bed and leaned down to grab them.
Ava stood up, slipped on her slippers, and shuffled to the window. She pulled back the curtains, revealing the bustling city below. The sounds of car horns, chatter, and construction filled the air.
Ava stood at the window, lost in thought as she gazed out at the city. She felt a sense of longing, a desire to break free from the suffocating grip of her home life.
Feeling somewhat refreshed, Ava dressed in comfortable clothes and made her way downstairs to the kitchen. Her stomach growled with hunger, and she looked forward to a peaceful breakfast.
But as she entered the kitchen, Raina's shrill voice pierced the air. "Ava, you're so lazy! You sleep in late, and then you expect to just waltz downstairs and eat?"
Ava's heart sank, her appetite vanishing. She knew better than to engage with Raina when she was in one of her moods.
"I'm sorry, ma," Ava said quietly, trying to placate her. "I'll just have something quick and then head out the door."
But Raina was relentless, her verbal barrage continuing as Ava hastily prepared a simple breakfast. Ava felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to give Raina the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
Immediately she was done cooking, ava headed to the bathroom to shower and get ready for her shift at the cafe.
After dressing in her cafe uniform, Ava grabbed her bag and headed downstairs. Her stepmother, raina, was already in the kitchen, sipping coffee. Ava avoided eye contact, not wanting to spark any unnecessary attention.
Ava took a deep breath, feeling the cool morning air fill her lungs. She began her walk to the cafe, her mind already shifting to the tasks ahead.
As she walked, Ava thought about her schedule for the day. She had a shift at the cafe, followed by a few hours at the library, and then a late-night shift at the bar. It was going to be a busy day for her.
Ava's POV:
As I walked to the cafe, my mind turned to the tasks ahead. I arrived earlier than usual, hoping to get a head start on my shift. Rachel, my manager, looked up in surprise as I clocked in.
"Hey, Ava! You're early today. Everything okay?" Rachel asked, his eyes scanning my face for any signs of trouble.
I forced a smile, not wanting to reveal the truth about my difficult morning. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just wanted to get a head start," I replied, trying to sound casual.
Rachel nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. I appreciated Rachel's kindness and empathy.
As the morning rush began, I dove into my work, taking orders and serving customers with a smile. But despite my best efforts, the cafe was slammed, and some customers were being particularly difficult.
One customer sent his coffee back three times, complaining that it was too hot, then too cold, and finally, that it was just plain "wrong." I patiently listened to his complaints, apologizing and offering to remake the drink.
"I'm so sorry, sir. Let me get that remade for you right away," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.
The customer grumbled, but eventually accepted the remade drink. I breathed a sigh of relief as he took a sip and nodded in approval.
But just as things were starting to calm down, another customer yelled at me for getting her order wrong, even though I was certain I'd gotten it right. Rachel stepped in, calmly resolving the issue and offering the customer a complimentary dessert.
"I'm so sorry for the mistake," Rachel said, his voice smooth as honey. "Let me offer you a complimentary dessert to make up for it."
The customer's expression softened, and she accepted the offer. I watched, grateful for Rachel's intervention.
Rachel patted me on the back a warm smile on his face "you did great Ava".I dont know how you keep your cool with some of this customers.
I smiled back feeling a sense of gratitude towards Rachel..he was more than a manager to me he is a mentor a confidante and a friend.