The morning sun filtered through the large windows of the café, casting a warm glow over the small table where Leon Alistair sat. A steaming cup of coffee rested beside him, its rich aroma mingling with the faint scent of freshly baked pastries. Leon leaned back in his chair, his fingers idly flipping through the pages of a well-worn comic book. For a moment, the world outside seemed unimportant. The café was his restfullness.

  After finishing his coffee, Leon stepped out into the crisp morning air. The streets were alive with the hum of activity—people rushing to work, vendors setting up their stalls, and the occasional honk of a car breaking the monotony. He slid into the driver’s seat, the engine purring to life when he started the engine, as he drove to the grocery store. To pick up a few last-minute items.

  That evening, Leon stood in front of his mirror, adjusting his tie. Tonight was special. He was taking Evelyn Miles, his girlfriend, out to dinner. Her presence brought a smile to his face. Evelyn always had a way of making even the simplest moments feel extraordinary. He grabbed his keys and headed out, the anticipation of seeing her lightening his steps.

  As he drove to her house, the city lights flickered past, a blur of neon and shadow. And 30 minutes later he arrived at Evelyn’s house, he pressed the doorbell, his heart skipping a beat as the door swung open. There she stood, radiant in a shimmering blue dress that caught the light like the surface of a tranquil ocean. Her smile was infectious, and for a moment, Leon forgot everything else.

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  They drove to an Italian restaurant, The restaurant was cozy, the soft glow of candlelight casting flickering shadows on the walls. They talked and joked, their banter effortless. Their conversation flowing effortlessly. But suddenly Evelyn’s tone grew serious.

  “Leon” she began, her eyes searching his, have you ever thought about making our relationship more serious? Because, we've been together for 12 years. And it's hard to meet you because..

  He put the glass on the side, "I know what you meant by that." Then reached across the table to take her hand. "Evelyn, I promise, this will be the last time I work there. And after I get back from USSF, I will propose to you and, we will build a new life."

  Her eyes softened, and she squeezed his hand. “I’ll be waiting.”

  Later, after dropping Evelyn off, Leon returned home. He placed his car keys on the kitchen table and sank into the sofa, just as he was about to drift off, there was a knock at the door. It was Miss Anne, his neighbor, holding a small gift.

  "I heard you’re leaving tomorrow. So I thought I'd give you something to remember us by."

  Leon accepted the gift with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Miss Anne. That means a lot."

  She patted his arm gently before turning to leave. "May God protect you and ease all your affairs. Well, I'll see you in 6 months. Good night."

  He bid her goodnight and closed the door. Later, in the bedroom, he set the gift aside and lay down on his bed. Tomorrow, he would leave for Nova.