“What on earth do you think you’re doing? Why are you letting him show you this, do you have any idea how reckless this is?” Mae asks incredulously. I’ve never seen her this angry before – or angry in any capacity come to think of it. She stands over me with a threatening silhouette as I clean the spilled drink from the floor with flimsy paper towels. My head hangs in shame, hiding from both Mae and the customers who stare, frozen in embarrassment.

“I asked him to show me.” I mumble to the floor.

“What was that?” She leans down slightly, her tone getting angrier. I flip my hair back and glare up at her.

“I said I asked him to show me, I asked him about the future. He didn’t do anything wrong – nobody did anything wrong, it was all me.” I see her replay my plea in her head.

“What do you mean nobody-” A million thoughts flash in her eyes before she lets out a scoff, “You mean to tell me… Right, yes of course you have. All day I’ve seen the customers spending 5 minutes each at the counter chatting away to you, and you’ve been breaking the rules this whole time!?” I’m now a little below her eyeline, standing, with a handful of soggy napkins.

“I-I’m sorry, Mae. Really, I am. I think I just got caught up in curiosity of it all.” I feel like a child being scolded at school in front of my peers. Everyone in the café is just sitting in silence. The man from the future has slipped out. The regular old folk are staring. Mae is like a woman possessed and persists.

“Sorry isn’t good enough Josie. This is serious. Do you understand how unbelievably lucky we are to still be standing here talking right now? Anything you learn about the past and future can change everything. I say we’re lucky, but we haven’t been outside or checked the news. There could be irreparable damage to the space-time continuum, all because you were curious?” She’s rattling these points off like they’re rehearsed. Relentlessly pointing out how much of a failure I have been.

However, she’s right. For my own selfish curiosities, I have potentially caused chaos. As soon as these people finished talking to me entire histories could’ve been erased, important moments in human civilization wiped out.

“You’re right, I was selfi-”

“I know I’m right Josie, I wrote the rules. Rules I have managed to follow for decades with no issues, so how come it’s taken you just one week to break them? I just do not understand what went through your head that made you think it was a good idea.” Mae has my gaze locked in, yet I see movement in my peripheral.

“Mae, that’s enough.” Mae’s tirade is shattered by this. The eyes that look at me now are not the eyes that were reprimanding me a moment ago. We both simultaneously turn to see an old woman standing at her table.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

A long grey plait drapes over her shoulder, and she has a comfortable looking long sleeve black jumper on. I’ve noticed her in here before, but now I look at her. I see her. The wrinkles in her face tell me the wonderful things she has seen, her jewellery whisper stories of the cultures she’s witnessed. Mae is as entranced as I am and seems to have a deep respect for her.

“Mrs. Leuchtenberg. She’s been breaking the rules.” Mae, the owner, pleads with her, a customer. Mrs. Leuchtenberg raises her hand.

“Mae, darling. You’ve seen it today, yes? You’ve felt it? Everyone has been smiling, enjoying their time, and reminiscing. You notice the negatives but ignore the positives; yes, the customers are at the counter for 5 minutes at a time, but you don’t notice the joy on their faces. The joy on her face.” She points to me. “Do you think this young lady has any interest in ruining time as we know it? She hasn’t been asking for lottery results, or the outcome of sporting events. She has been asking about history, not the future. Not history as we know it, but people’s history. Their memories. What it was like to grow up, what things have they seen or been a part of. I know I don’t just speak for myself when I say we all cherish those memories and don’t get to pause and reflect nearly as much as we’d like to. Then we come here and get asked about them? Well, you’re lucky it’s only 5 minutes at the counter.”

Mrs. Leuchtenberg cocks her head slightly and smiles at us. Her final words wisp their way to Mae’s ears slowly. Mae swivels back to look at me, a thin layer of tears forming in her eyes. With a deep sigh, she shakes her head.

“I’m sorry Josie. I thought the worst and took it out on you as if it had happened. I’m still upset with you for breaking the rules, but -” She takes a meaningful look around the café, “maybe the rules need to change for the betterment of this place.”.

“It’s ok Mae, It’s entirely my fault. It was dangerous, and reckless, and selfish. As soon as I started hearing about people’s lives and problems, I felt compelled to help them but lost my way in the excitement of it all. You don’t have to change the rules if you’re not comfortable doing that.” I look up at her, and I don’t realise how much I’ve missed her smile until it grows across her face again.

“Tomorrow, come in early. We’ll write the new rules. Together.” She walks over to the sign and takes it down. I’m reminded of the outline of the sign I saw during my interview, and how kind Mae was to me then, and still is. My body moves on impulse as I rush behind the bar and wrap my arms around her. I look up to her so much and I never want to disappoint her again. I feel her reciprocate the hug, and I begin to gently sob.

…

I gather my things, as well as my composure, and get ready to leave. I’m putting my coat on when Mae pops her head in the staffroom.

“Mrs. Leuchtenberg is leaving and would like to say goodbye.” I freeze. I drop my coat and desperately try and wipe away any trace of blubbering from my face. I leave the staffroom to see her standing at the nearside of the counter. I smile at her.

“Thank you so much, you really didn’t have to do that, but I appreciate it nonetheless.” The blubbering returns.

“Tsk. You’ve done this place a favour, just you wait.” She winks, turns to leave, but hesitates. “The future is bright because you are as pure as light. Never compromise who you are, Josie.” She squeezes my shoulder and begins to leave. I watch her weave through the mostly empty tables, transfixed. Her aura is almost visible it is that mesmerizing. She doesn’t look familiar, but feels familiar.

As she raises her hand to push the door, her black sleeve falls down her arm. I squint my eyes and see, tattooed circling her wrist, the words ‘…also a love of Humanity.’.

THE END