JIM-010
Barista: Julius Mendoza
Date: Jan-1-2020
Receipt: JIM-010
Subject: Missing
It’s late. Later than it feels. But then, a quiet, uneventful funeral was never in the cards. The capricious Goddess Caffeine does not favor the quiet. Not in this business. Not in this city. And certainly not with this crew.
It’s been a long day. A long week. I imagine the rest of you feel the same.
Jean-Marc is back. Physically, at least. Mentally? Hard to say. He hasn’t said much since he slipped out of whatever plane of existence tried to claim him. Just a quiet nod, a cigarette burning between his fingers, and that was that. Sahir says he’s fine. Says he gets like this—his mind miles away, gears turning. Says it’s a good sign.
I hope he’s right.
Julia, on the other hand… she’s still missing. Technically.
I say technically because, according to Jean-Marc, she’s not lost. Not trapped. Just gone. If she wants to come back, she will. No supernatural forces holding her. No Cold breathing down her neck. Just her own choice. Her own free will.
And that’s more than we’ve been able to say for most of the people we’ve lost.
I suspect she’ll be back. Coffee is addictive. And she’s been out late.
But for now, all we can do is wait. Maybe tomorrow she walks through that door. Maybe next week. Maybe never.
It’s up to her now.
Though—the Coffee Trade waits for no one.
Get some rest.
We’ve got a plane to catch Friday.
That’s all.
Julius.