the coffee kid

she was a kid going  
to a small local Catholic  
university  
 
worked evenings after  
classes slinging coffee  
at the local caffeine  
outpost  
 
at first it was, "thank you,"  
and, "your welcomed."  
 
then over the months  
it became little talks,  
conversations  
 
once I told her I was  
in a noose around my
neck tight spot  
 
she said she would  
pray for me  
 
I guess she did cause  
she was a good Catholic,  
something worked  
out  
 
she invented these little  
treats  
 
sold them at the coffee  
shop  
 
the owner put out a sign  
that read, MADE BY ONE  
OF OUR FANCY PANTS  
BARISTAS."  
 
I joked about the sign  
 
she laughed  
 
but it was one of the  
best peanut butter  
snacks that I every  
had  
 
she recently announced  
that was graduating and  
moving out west to teach  
at some Catholic school  
 
on her final night I  bought  
her a graduation card  
 
we said our goodbyes  
 
we both choked up  
 
she said, I'll always pray  
for you. Love you, buddy. "  
 
I said, " that door you hear  
opening is your future.  
Goodbye,  
God bless,  
I love you, buddy  
 
walked out the door  
 
watched the sun doing  
it's death dance in the  
evening sky not caring  
about how I felt  
 
watched the old buildings  
around me crumble a little  
more not caring about how  
I felt  
 
walked past the used book  
store two doors down,  
there were geniuses, madman ,  
the brave, the doomed on the  
covers not caring about how  
I felt  
 
stopped in for a coffee  
before I went home  
after work the next  
night  
 
ordered one of my  
usuals  
 
a small decaf Mocha  
Lisa  
 
made my way to my  
favorite booth  
 
sat down  
 
took a sip  
 
and realized right away  
that nothing had changed  
 
but everything was  
different