❝ Aurora neared Patricia's house and felt a wave of nostalgia wash over her. She had spent many afternoons of her childhood building snowmen in the front yard, rollerblading in the driveway and playing dress-up under the magnolia tree. As she walke...
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Aurora mopped the floor vigorously. She was nearly done her eight-hour shift and wanted to leave the place spotless before she left for the day. Her manager, Penny, was a stickler for cleanliness. Her aunt complained that she worked her too hard, but Aurora didn't mind.
She had grown fond of Penny over the past few months. Aurora enjoyed all the work and energy that was put into the Sonder Cafe. Her manager believed there was no limit to how comfy and inviting she could make the venue.
She loved the thick velvet curtains and overlapping plush rugs. Her favorite area was in the back corner where a rustic fireplace was situated before some cushioned armchairs. There was a large selection of cafes in the area but Sonder had that special something that seemed to entice a steady stream of regulars.
Aurora was overjoyed when she got the job. She loved interacting with customers.
She made it a personal goal to get to know them a little bit more each time they stopped by. She particularly enjoyed the adorable group of elderly ladies who would choose to sit by the big windows. They would recount funny stories about their grandchildren and laugh hysterically as they sipped their teas. Aurora realized she hadn't seen them in a while and she hoped they were fairing well.
Penny scheduled Aurora to work every weekend and certain weeknights. This worked in her favor because she would take as many shifts as she could get. Every last dime of her paychecks went towards paying for college expenses.
It really helped that her aunt lived in the same city as the school she had chosen. Paying rent would have been a major financial strain.
She was proud of the self-sufficiency she had built up in her adolescence. Having such an irresponsible mother forced her to grow up faster than her peers. She imagined that people like Patricia and Noah never had to worry about money.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she saw a flash of silver hair and dangly earrings.
"June! You're not wearing your uniform!" Aurora gaped at her eccentric co-worker.
June Nguyen stood before the cash register in a fur coat that nearly swallowed up her whole figure. She looked like she belonged on the cover of vogue. Aurora always found herself stunned and enchanted by June's audacious wardrobe choices. She knew she would never be able to pull off such looks on herself.
"Oh darling, I'm not here to work," June lowered her bedazzled sunglasses to peer at Aurora with a mischievous smile. "I've come to take you on an adventure. You're just about to finish your shift aren't you?"
Aurora glanced at her watch to realize her co-worker had arrived at just at the right moment. She quickly untied her apron and stashed away the cleaning supplies into the storage closet. She felt a bit jittery because she had no idea where June was taking her. This was the first time they had done anything together outside of work.
