A Silent Partner

He sat down across from her. He looked into her eyes in a way that didn't make her ask why he - a stranger - had sat down across from her. He looked down and smiled a little and pulled out a notebook from his bag. He searched for something with his hand in his bag and looked up at her again. He triumphantly showed her the pen he'd found in his bag. She smiled at him and laughed a little. He made himself comfortable in his chair and turned his attention to the blank piece of paper in his notebook and started doodling clouds. She shook her head at the confidence he'd shown by simply walking in there and sitting down at her table even though there were multiple available seats. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the baristas whisper to each other and one of them nodding in their direction. Now, usually she would've felt embarrassed by this kind of event, but today she rather enjoyed it. She'd recently got particularly tired of her need of control and she was trying to do small tings every day to try and let go. And here was an exercise. To not care about what other thought and just let this man sit in front of her although it went against social etiquette. She continued reading her book and they just sat in silence for a while until her coffee went cold. She stood up to go order another one and the man flinched and looked up from the trance he'd been in while drawing. "Just getting another coffee." she said quietly and smiled at him. She didn't know why, but she felt an urge to lay a reassuring hand on his shoulder, so she did. Weird, she thought, weird how fast you can make a connection - even without speaking. Maybe the man couldn't even speak. She ordered another coffee from one of the baristas who smiled at her liked she pitied her. She went back to the table and sat down. She exchanged a look with the man who had dark eyes and brown hair which had a few grey hairs hidden in it here and there. She smiled at him and he smiled back and she noticed he had a dimple in his left cheek. They both looked down and continued reading and drawing. The barista brought the coffee and they both looked up. "Here's your Americano, miss." the barista informed. "Thank you." she answered and put both her hands around the warm cup. "My favourite as well." the man said and continued: "I'm Anthony, by the way. And well done for passing my test." He reached his hand across the table and she couldn't help but grin at his confidence and shake his hand. "Hi, I'm Ella. And I'm glad." she said.