A Dream

Separating the cup from its matching saucer that was set on the glass top table in front of her, she lifted it towards her lips and took a sip. The notes of sweet berries permeated her mouth as the hot tea trickled down her throat.

Finding its way back to where it belongs, she placed the cup down and sighed.

It was a beautiful day.

The breeze sweeps past her cheeks, lifting her hairs just slightly while doing so. The weather was perfect for where she is sitting. An alfresco dining area in a small quaint cafe tucked away in the corner of the street.

Across her, the lady in a white shirt tucked into her black pencil skirt stood in her black heels, beside the road looking left and right hoping earnestly for a vacant cab. A movement from the corner of her eyes caught her attention and she turned to focus on the couple standing a few feet away in front of her. They were getting ready to cross the road as the man stretched his hand out to hold the lady’s.

A few others passed by. The sound of the heels clacking as they hit the pavement. Some were in a rush while others simply strolled along.

People watching in a quaint cafe.

Her current read lying on the table.

A tray with her hot tea and her avocado toast.

It was her favourite thing to do.

A brief time-out from her daily schedule to gather her thoughts and gain inspiration. She had planned to snuck in some reading while in the cafe but she now that she is here, she feels somewhat reluctant to pick up the book that was lying in front of her.

Instead, she picked up the fork and knife and begin cutting the corner of the avocado toast. The smooth buttery avocado flavoured with some salt and chilli flakes and the crunch of the toast rolled around in her mouth as she chewed.

Even the toast was perfect. As she slowly savoured her meal, her thoughts wandered. The same old one that has been coming back now and again each time she had a few spare moment - moving to a new country.

The lifestyle and scenes of the city where she was so fond of no longer seemed appealing as it was when she was younger. Perhaps she has grown to love the solitude and the serenity of life that has caused her to entertain thoughts of moving abroad.

To a quaint little town, where life is a little less busy and where everyone knows that it is more precious to spend time doing meaningful things such as being in the company of loved ones as compared to pursuing after a high life.

A house in the town where magical things happen and perhaps even where a love story unfolds…

As she was about the drift away in her thoughts, she felt droplets of water touching her cheeks. Vaguely, she thought she heard a dog barking somewhere near. Unconsciously wiping the water away from the cheeks, she opened her eyes and squint at the bright light. Adjusting herself to the surrounding, she sat up quickly. As she was doing so, she could see Toby dashing towards her.

She had fallen asleep under the great oak tree in her master’s house while she was tending the garden just a while ago. It was her favourite tree, her safe place located at the back of the house and away from the crowd.

“What a dream,” she marvelled to herself.

A dream inside a dream, and maybe one that would come true.

Firmly believing in her dream, she kept it inside her heart as she stood up.

It is time to get back to work.

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