Banana Muffin

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

One of the most beloved coffee shops in my neighborhood closed for good today. They saw this winter coming with continuing pandemic restrictions, and they decided they couldn’t do another season of this. All through the neighborhood, there was grief, understanding, and a sudden need for coffee and chai lattes.

Three days before Highland Coffee closes

I stand in line waiting for the chance to say goodbye.

The man in front of me runs his fingers through his long beard,

looks down at his phone,

squints against the open September morning light.

Behind me a woman coaxes mumbled one-word answers

from a man who would rather be anywhere else.

Inside, the barista smiles with something like joy --

or just the recognition that we are all here

together

witnessing the end of this place.

Someone pays "Java Jive" at the piano in the corner.

Above our masks, our eyes shine with memories and stories.

I ask for a coffee, and a banana muffin.

He hands me a paper bag --

"This is the last ever banana muffin," he says.

We hold each other's eyes for a moment,

then exhale to break the spell

before the tears break past our eyelashes.