Location: Gramercy Condominium – The Split Bean<br/>Tagged: Faith Noel, Dylan Murphy (your order is ready)<br/><br/>“Yes ma’am. Only the best,” she added, her smile growing. Faith had spoken to her. It wasn’t that she idolized her. Faith was a strong woman who had been through so much, far more than most ever endure in a lifetime. It was respect, admiration, more than anything. Her words were haunting. Perhaps it was the atmosphere that surrounded her that made these simple, common words take on a new light. She took her coffee and headed to a quiet table. Well, as quiet as it could be at this time of day. Lucy couldn’t help but watch her, pausing from the urgency of the morning rush.  Lucy sighed, wishing there was something she could do. Grief is a heartless emotion that sweeps over a person, consuming them, taking everything they are and leaving them to pick up the pieces, the shattered remains of their heart. It was clear that Faith Noel hadn’t been able to even begin to put her life back together again. Would she ever be able to? She was a mother without a child, lost in this world. She had lost her place, and there was no one there to help guide her. Lucy’s heart went out to her, wanting to give her some warmth, some comfort, even if only for a second, but she was terribly inept at such things.<br/><br/>Instead the unrelentless flow of customers pushed her forward. Coffee, medium roast, 1 cream. She mumbled the words as she committed the order to memory. He seemed like an okay sort, typical for what she saw on a daily basis here. Most of the customers were not capable of being pleasant until their morning dose of caffeine flowed through them.  She was glad she never grew dependent on the stuff. Keeping out of the ice cream shop, on the other hand, was an uphill battle. She did have a fondness for chocolate. She called the name, “Murphy,” taking note of the attractive man. Offering him her warmest smile, she  slid the cup across to him, hoping for something, a warm good morning would have been enough, but alas. ‘Another coffee addicted person,’ she thought, softly giggling.<br/><br/>She turned around to see the empty table and the purple flower.  Those haunting words came back to her once more, and Lucy felt a tugging at her heart. She held up a hand, signifying she would be right back. Disappearing around the corner, she grabbed the phone from the wall and dialed. After a moment, she spoke. “Lucy.” Again she waited until the voice on the other end of the line said, “You have a collect call from, ‘Lucy’. Do you except the charges?” Her mother quickly answered. “Yes! Lucy?! Is something wrong?” She took a deep breath, pushing back her tears. “No mom. I just wanted….I just wanted to say I love you, and I miss you.” The sound of her mother’s happiness could be felt across the line. “Oh Lucy. I love you too, and you know I miss you. You can home anytime.” Lucy nodded, knowing this already. “I know. I gotta go mom. I’m at work, and it’s busy. I love you. Talk to you soon.” Lucy hung up the phone and headed back to the counter. Her eyes were moist with the tears that she had worked so hard to push back. She could feel the slight flush in her cheeks. Still, time had to move on. Looking over, she took one last look at the flower in the tip jar.  “Okay. Who’s next?”