Merritt... Beyond the Smile

In the corner of a small cafe on a bustling city street, Merritt stood behind the order counter, arranging plates and filling cups with steaming coffee. The aroma of roasted beans filled the air, mingling with the clinking of cups and the murmurs of customers. It was nearing nine in the morning, and the golden light streaming through the window illuminated her weary face. The regulars began to trickle in some greeted her by name with indifference, while others passed by as if she were part of the furniture. Yet, she smiled at everyone, though her smile couldn’t quite conceal the shadows beneath her eyes.

For twenty eight years, Merritt had worked this job, from dawn till dusk, relying on the patrons’ tips to scrape by. She counted every penny she spent on her children’s schoolbooks and uniforms, while ignoring the hole in her shoe that had been there for months. Every day, she listened to customers’ stories with a patient ear, yet no one ever asked, “How are you, Merritt?” Not even the cafe manager, who was too busy staring at his phone to notice how her hands trembled under the weight of a heavy tray.

One evening, as she wiped down the tables and collected the remaining cups, an elderly man in a worn-out coat walked in. He sat in the unvisited corner, where the light was dim and the chair was frayed. He didn’t order anything just looked at her with eyes as calm as the sea. “I used to come here twenty years ago,” he said. “And you’re still the same... lighting up this place.” Merritt paused, as if time had stopped with her. She didn’t recognize him, but his words carried warmth she hadn’t felt since her husband passed away. A lump rose in her throat, and then she smiled this time, it was genuine, like the first laugh she’d had in years.

On her way home under the light rain, she remembered the man’s words. The streets were wet, and the reflections of streetlights on the pavement shimmered like fallen stars. For the first time in years, she felt like more than just a shadow serving others. She was a mother. A friend. A human being.

The next day, she returned to the cafe as usual, but something had changed. When a customer asked how she was, she answered honestly: “Tired, but okay.” The customer didn’t care, but from then on, she only smiled when she meant it.
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