Watch You Step

My alarm woke me up. Groaning, I rolled over to turn it off. Another day in the middle of nowhere working in a tiny coffee shop.

It wasn’t a terrible life. I liked that the town was so small. I was new to it, but everyone seemed to be happy and kind. I was on a first name basis with the mailman already and I’ve only been here a month.

I put on my all black uniform, grabbing my black apron. Shoving my arms in my hoodie, I left for the early morning shift. I desperately needed the entire first pot of coffee from the shop.

I locked my apartment, putting the rusted key with the bright pink keyring in my back pocket.

My landlord, Mary, was sitting at the front desk, smacking the side of her computer.

“Mary, hitting it like that won’t fix it.” I tried to help, pushing the rest of my brown hair into the hood. It was starting to rain a little.

“It will or I’ll use the bat. It knows when I’m serious.” The elderly woman hit it again, and the screen turned on.

My eyebrows shot up, shocked. “Well, I guess you’re right.”

She looked at me, her brown eyes kind behind those binoculars she called glasses, “Amber, Honey, you need to eat more. You’re practically wasting away.”

I held in the urge to roll my eyes. She sounded just like my mother. The same family I was trying to escape. “I’m eating just fine, Mary. I’ll grab something at the shop.” I gave her a smile, starting my two block walk to work.

There were more people in town this time of year. Tourist season. We had some cute nature paths and lakes that brought all the neighboring towns in for a few days. Made for extra money and tips in the early mornings. I know people are very serious about their coffee and their addiction to it. I was one of them.

I bumped into someone, a man I didn’t recognize, “I’m sorry!”

He turned to me, freezing me in my spot. His eyes were black for a second. He blinked, and they were normal looking eyes again, “Watch your step.”

I went to apologize again when he walked away. That was a little rude.

Nicole was unlocking the door to the shop. “Nikki!” I waved, letting her know I’m almost here.

She smiled back, propping the door open. “Better hurry, the skies are supposed to clear up today. A lot of people will show up for the weekend hike.”

She was right. It was going to be pandemonium later. I looked up at the sky, seeing she was right about the weather clearing up, too.”

I started the water for the coffee, tying my apron in place, “Is it bad if I have the entire pot to myself?”

She laughed, waving the baking people out. They came in super early to make all the scones and biscuits we would sell today. “Only if I get the second pot.”

I got one of the blueberry scones, shoving it down before customers started showing up. I thought about keeping the receipt to show Mary so she might back off about my body size. It was harmless, but annoying.

The morning went by quickly. I noticed we were out of creamer at the service station. Going to refill it, I ran into a woman. “Oh! Excuse me, I’m so sorry.” Hopefully Nikki didn’t see that.

The woman looked at me. I stopped again, seeing those black pits instead of eyes. I blinked a few times, and they were gone. “Watch your step.” Was all she said, walking out the door.

“What was that about?” I screamed when Nikki spoke up from next to me.

“Don’t sneak up on me like that!” I glared at her as laughed, dramatically wiping her eyes.

“Sorry! I tried calling for you, but I guess you didn’t hear me. What was that lady on about?” Nikki looked for the lady walking away. She was gone.

“I ran into her accidentally refilling the creamer.” I was a little nervous to tell her. Nikki was my boss and I’d nearly been here a month.

“Oh, it happens. Nothing to cry over.” She went back behind the counter, refilling a coffee machine with fresh grounds.

I let out a breath of relief. I would’ve been seriously yelled at for a mistake like that if I was back home.

“Amber! Can you clean the bathroom? Someone told me a kid made a mess with the toilet paper.”

I grimaced. It could’ve been way worse than that, “Yeah, I’m on it.” I rounded the corner, smacking my hip into the edge.

“Watch your step.” Nikki called over her shoulder, going back to her task.

She didn’t see me pause. What are the odds? Three people have told me that today, it was getting weird.

The rest of the shift went by without any tantrums from people who’s coffee tasted off, or kids screaming for a different scone, or someone insisting that we made their order wrong and had us remake it three times. Today was a relatively easy day.

I left in the early afternoon, deciding to take a walk along one of those nature parks.

The trees really were beautiful. Before long, I was deep into my thoughts. Maybe I should call my family and check in. Maybe they were telling the truth and they finally were changing. Maybe I had been wrong to leave and cut them out of my life.

I turned a tree, finding a man standing there. He was fully decked out in all things hiking related. “Hey there! Do you know which way to the parking lot? I think I got lost an hour or so ago.” He gave a sheepish grin.

I smiled back, “Yeah, just take this path behind me for a bit and you should get there. It’s a straight shot.”

He gave me a real smile, walking past me. I moved to the side a little, keeping my distance. You never know. “Thank you.”

I turned away, starting to walk deeper into the woods. I didn’t notice there were sounds coming after me. Footsteps. Quickly turning back around, I saw that man again.

He held his arms up, another smile spreading across his lips, “You caught me.”

All my guards went up. I should’ve brought my mace. And my taser. “I thought you were heading to the parking lot.”

“I was. But I didn’t like the idea of you walking out here alone. And I wanted to know if you wanted any company.”

Red flags were going up. “Yeah, no, um, thank you, but I’d rather be alone. My friend is meeting me soon actually.”

“Oh cool! Over by the cliffs, right? You better watch your step over there, they can be pretty slippery.”

Again with that warning about my steps. My comically I needed to look for a mouse trap or something. “Will do! Thanks.” I turned to leave, stealing glances behind to make sure he wasn’t following me.

Several hundred feet later, I still couldn’t see him. Maybe he finally was gone.

I soon found the cliffs he was talking about. They were beautiful, but steep. Very, very steep. I could barely make out a ravine at the bottom.

I took in the view. It was stunning. I loved being in nature. I didn’t mind it was in the middle of nowhere in a small town where no one knew me. Maybe I could actually settle here. I could call my family and make peace. Maybe they really would change.

I leaned over the edge, not able to stop myself from peering down. It really was a huge fall.

Turning to head back to town, my foot slipped. I struggled for balance before I fell over the edge.

My scream echoed in the canyon as I fell. The ravine got closer and closer. With my last thought before I smacked into the water like it was cement; I should’ve watched my step.”