Observation is an active, not a passive skill.

Allana sat quietly in the corner of the coffee shop, watching the world go by. She was an observer, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling city around her. People rushed past, lost in their own little worlds. Some were on their way to work, others to meet friends, and still, others just wandering aimlessly.

She sipped her coffee and continued to watch. As she gazed out the window, she noticed a couple walking hand in hand down the street. They looked so happy, so in love. She couldn't help but smile as she watched them disappear around the corner.

A group of teenagers stepped into the coffee shop, laughing and joking with each other. They were loud and boisterous, but she couldn't help but feel a little envious. She wished she had friends like that, friends who would stick by her no matter what.

As the day wore on, the coffee shop began to fill up. People came and went, each with their own story to tell. She listened intently as a man at the next table spoke on the phone to his wife. He was hesitant, unsure of what to say. Allana could tell he was nervous, but he eventually plucked up the courage to say what he needed to say. The relief on his face was palpable when he hung up the phone.

She watched as a young girl stepped up to the counter to order a coffee. The girl was clearly nervous, fidgeting with her phone as she waited. As the barista handed her the coffee, she noticed the girl's hands shaking. She wondered what the girl was so afraid of, what she had to be nervous about. She decided to follow her out of the coffee shop.

The girl walked quickly down the street, her eyes fixed on her phone. She didn't notice the people around her or the buildings she passed. She was in a world of her own. She eventually reached a small park at the end of the street and sat down on a bench. She stared at her phone for a few minutes before finally putting it away.

She took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. It was a beautiful day, the sun shining down on her face. She closed her eyes and soaked it all in. She sat there for a while, just enjoying the moment. When she finally opened her eyes, she noticed the observer sitting on a bench nearby.

Allana smiled at her, and the girl smiled back. They sat there together for a few moments, their minds both lost in thought. Allana couldn't help but wonder what was going through the girl's mind, what had caused her to be so nervous.

Eventually, the girl stood up and walked away. Allana watched her go, feeling a sense of longing. She wished she had someone to talk to, someone to share her thoughts with. But she knew that she was destined to be an observer, to sit quietly and watch the world go by.

As night fell, the coffee shop emptied out. Allana was the only one left, sipping her cold coffee and lost in thought. She watched as the lights in the city flickered on, one by one. She knew that it was time to go home, to retreat back into her own little world.

But as she stood up to leave, she noticed something in the corner of her eye. It was the girl from earlier, walking back towards the coffee shop. She had a huge smile on her face, and the observer couldn't help but smile back.

As the girl walked past her, she handed the observer a small piece of paper.

"Thank you," the girl said. "For being here when I needed someone to share my thoughts with."

Then Allana looked down at the paper, seeing a phone number scrawled across it. She smiled and put it in her pocket, feeling a sense of hope.

Maybe she wouldn't have to be an observer forever. Maybe she could find someone to share her world with.