The Little Things

Image by Kati from Pixabay

Last Saturday at the coffee shop I was craving something sweet, so instead of my usual black coffee I splurged on a soy latte with sugar-free syrup. “Any flavor, your pick,” I said. The barista nodded. I’ve been a regular for seven years, and in all that time this guy’s never smiled or said one more word than absolutely necessary.

When my drink was ready, I settled in at my favorite table, spread out my current manuscript, took a sip of coffee, and about fell out of my...