Emma was typing up an email to her department when she got the notification. She glanced at her watch and saw that it was her coffee rewards app. Curious, she pulled out her phone. “You’ve reached enough points to qualify for a BOGO coffee. Come on in before Friday to claim your reward!”
Emma saved her progress on the email and then gathered up orders for a coffee run. There was no sense in waiting. Peter wanted a hot latte. Janite wanted caramel-topped whipped cream on an iced mocha. Linda wanted her usual, black coffee.
“Why dilute the purity?”
Yes, of course, Linda. Everyone contributed cash, and Emma walked to the corner shop. On her way, she got another alert. “Yes, I know.”
The door was dark. The handle was locked. She tried to peer in, looking for anyone, but there was no one. Emma ran her fingers through her hair. She steeled herself to return empty-handed. She sighed and left the corner shop.
Everyone was gracious. They understood the shop was closed. Emma could tell, though, that each one missed their coffee. She trudged to her cubicle and finished the email. She answered her phone. She wrote another email to Linda about restocking the supply cabinet. The end of the day was like a sloth in arriving.
When quitting time finally came, Emma decided she would stop by the corner shop on her way to her car. She wanted to cash in her rewards. It was raining. She jogged the two blocks to the shop, hunched with her coat partly over her head. She splashed her left shoe in a puddle, soaking the sock.
The door was dark. The handle was locked. She knocked on the door. Waited. There was no answer.
“Fuck,” whispered Emma. She left and continued to her car.
It was morning. The sun was shining. Emma was walking to work. She turned the corner towards the corner shop. She was desperate for her usual morning coffee.
The door was dark. The handle was locked.
