The Essence of Me

It is time for me to give up.

But how do you give up something that has been a part of you for the longest time?

Coffee reminds me of home… of lazy Sundays when all my relatives would gather at our house and talk endlessly about things that matter, and even things that do not.

In our home, the first thing we offer a visitor is coffee.

Family and friends would ask for coffee at any time of the day (and night).

My siblings and I drink coffee in the morning, even as children. My youngest sister, when forced to drink milk, would ask for a little coffee to be mixed in her milk before she drank it.

To me, coffee, memories, and love have blurred lines. I cannot tell them apart.

I have developed many lasting friendships over coffee.

I fell in love over a cup of coffee (and in a haze of cigarette smoke).

I broke my heart over a cup coffee.

Now, after all we have been through together, I am, finally, giving up.

I am down to my last cup today. Hoping against hope that it would last forever.