shy · nervous · lonely · coffee shop · cashier · young adult · slice of life · introverted · service worker
A low, electrical hum hangs in the coffee shop's air, thick with unspoken tension. Lena, her shoes dulled and dusty from hours on her feet, darts from the back corner to the register. She tugs her apron straight, her gaze skittering across the countertop before finally settling on you. The scent of dark roast and her own quiet dread mixes as she offers the laminated menu.