Ivonne was sitting on a bench in the largest and most important square in her town, watching and giving popcorn to the pigeons that frequent the square.
I had read in the press that popcorn is good for birds and much more for pigeons. Likewise, in the press, it was indicated that Saturday, October 1st was International Coffee Day.
This led her to try to remember when she drank coffee for the first time, but it was difficult, the years were many and the memories did not seem to reach that far.
Trying to open those memories in her mind, she felt a warm hand take her arm and ask for the time.
She was a rather elderly lady who had sat on the bench right next to Ivonne.
Ivonne, very kindly, told her that she did not have a watch, but because of the height of the sun, it could be close to 09:00 am. The elderly woman sighed and lowered her face as if the answer was not as expected.
Ivonne, observing this, got up and asked a man who was passing in front of them the time and he answered with a kind smile that it was exactly 09:00 hours. The elderly woman saw Ivonne's gesture and rewarded her with a tender look along with a smile.
Ivonne sat back down and tried to return to her memories. At that moment the old woman sneezed and she wiped her nose with her hand. Ivonne didn't like that and gave her a handkerchief she had in her purse so the old woman could wipe her little nose.
The old woman looked up, thanked her, and immediately put the handkerchief to her nose, saying that maybe she had a cold, and asked Ivonne if she had had daughters.
Ivonne, without further hesitation, replied that she had two daughters who were already married with children, but that she had not seen them for some time because they lived outside the country.
The old lady said that she was very cold, to which Ivonne replied that it was raining and that the best thing to do was to go home so as not to get sick in case she got wet.
The old lady replied that she did not have a home, that she had been living on the street for several days because she had been kicked out of her home, and that she had no family to help her.
These words moved Ivonne and she almost burst into tears. She could not believe that someone who looked older, tender, and sweet could be alone; without family.
The little old lady arranged her coat better because the cold was getting colder and this made Ivonne react with an invitation to have a cup of coffee.
Just in front of the square, next to a beautiful church, there was a museum with a coffee shop inside; this is where the two women ended up.
They chose a table and as they sat down, Ivonne asked the old lady what her name was and if she was hungry.
She replied that her name was Ruth and that she had not eaten since the previous day in the morning.
Once again Ivonne's eyes wanted to burst into tears, she felt her heart crumple and a state of anxiety began to come over her. She tried to control herself and called the waitress to order coffee and sandwiches for both of them.
Ivonne could not contain herself and asked Ruth why she was alone.
Ruth replied that she had had only one child that he had died from the virus that attacked the entire planet and that the rest of her family had left her alone for many years because she had fallen in love with a married man who never responded for her and her pregnancy.
Ivonne felt that every time the old lady opened her mouth to speak, it was like the roll of the dice in the game of Jumanji; everything got worse.
Suddenly, Ruth asked Ivonne:
-Remember all the significant times when you drank coffee?
Ivonne was surprised by the question because she had long been trying to remember the first time.
She made a memory and in her mind was activated like a movie where all the times she drank coffee appeared and the images that had more meaning or the ones that were with more joy were with her family. Every sip of coffee with her family was wonderful, it was one of conversation, of closeness, of love.
Seeing that movie in her mind, a smile came to her face, and at that very moment, Ruth commented:
-How beautiful it is to drink coffee, it is a moment of love and joy. That is what I am living now with you.
Again the tears wanted to come out of Ivonne's brown eyes.
At that moment, by those things of the universe, Samuel, Ivonne's husband, approached the table saying that he had been looking for her for a while and that he had come into the cafeteria to drink a cup of coffee and was surprised to see her.
Ivonne got up, gave Samuel a kiss, and introduced him to Ruth while telling him how the two of them had met.
Samuel was moved by the story and immediately said he would be right back.
A few minutes later, Samuel returned accompanied by another person, who was the pastor of the church next door and in turn, was the director of a home where they helped people in street conditions.
Samuel commented that the pastor would help Ruth and that being in the home she would be filled with love with a good bed and food, and she could stay as long as she wanted.
Tears welled up in both women's eyes and they embraced. Samuel and the pastor extended their arms over the two women and in that immense embrace a bubble of love burst.
Ruth gladly agreed and told Ivonne:
-You saw, the moments of coffee are unforgettable, they are beautiful, full of love and joy.
Happy International Coffee Day!
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