Coffee and Conversation

 

I sit at the table in the small café on the corner, the warm and welcoming aroma of freshly brewed coffee envelops my soul. The place, simple and peaceful, smells like something that has been experienced many times before, but still holds the promise of something new. It is one of those cafés where, without wanting to, conversation seems to spring up unhurriedly, as if time stretched out with each sip.

He arrives punctually, as always. Friendship is like that: a story with a beginning, middle and end, but that repeats itself over the years, with the naturalness of good stories. We greet each other with the usual simple gesture, as if words were left for more solemn moments. He sits down and, without saying a word, gives me that look that only old friends know how to give. It is as if we know, instantly, what brought us here, what we are leaving behind and what we still hope for the future.

The cup of coffee arrives at the table. Hot. Intense. Almost challenging. I look at him, he looks at me. He takes a sip, and I follow suit. The silence lasts for a few minutes, but it is comfortable. There, the conversation does not need to be rushed, nor does it need to be full of big news. In fact, what we seek is that space between words, where the simple fact of being there already says everything that needs to be said.

We talk about work, about small frustrations and achievements. But also about dreams, those kept in the back of the drawer, which we only share with those who understand the weight and lightness of an old desire. Sometimes, in those silences, the conversation hangs in the air, hovering between us, in no hurry to be put into words. We do not need answers. The gesture of being there is enough, with the coffee warming our hands and the clock forgetting its beat.

When the cup is empty, the pace of the conversation does not slow down. It continues to flow, lighter now, as if with each sip the world becomes clearer. The topics come and go, but what really matters is what is not said. The knowing look, the easy laugh, the sharing of time. Friendship is made of these moments. Small, simple, but when combined, they become great. And so, between sips of coffee and relaxed smiles, we weave our story. There is no rush to finish, nor any obligation to leave. The coffee is just the setting, the catalyst for the conversation. What really matters is the company. And, in the end, that is what makes us return to the coffee shop, whenever possible. The rest... well, the rest remains in the air, like the taste of coffee that still lingers, even after the cup is empty.

Written:  01/13/2025

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