River's POV
Helping other people has always been a passion of mine.
When you’ve been in a similar position yourself of loneliness, isolation and depression, sometimes all you need is to talk to someone, off load and ask for a hug. Human interaction really could help the world if we attempt to talk more.
It is something that I live by. It certainly saved me. And I know that it can help other people.
Even though these people are strangers they’re still people. They still matter. Sometimes people don’t have anyone to speak to, that’s why my sign reminds people that they are not alone and that we can all attempt to understand each other no matter what is going on in our lives.
We just need a bit more kindness for the world to fall into peace. Is it so hard to be nice to each other?
Times are tougher than ever. More pressure to live the perfect life, to have an enjoyable job, to continuously look amazing despite how we feel. Prices of food, rent and petrol are increasing and people are struggling.
But if I can help even one person, my time in this voluntary job will be worth it.
I head out of my apartment and head down to the cafe across the street. My good friend, Luca, his mother owns the cafe and works with our other friend, Demi. It’s a great place to meet up, hang out, and attempt to get the left-over pastries at the end of the day but Luca’s mother is on to us.
My sign is tucked under one arm, backpack full behind me. As I push my way into the cafe, my eyes fall upon Luca instantly. Considering it’s ten o’clock in the morning, the cafe isn’t heaving like it usually is.
The business isn’t doing as well as it used to and Luca is always trying to keep his mother’s morale high but I understand how difficult it must be currently.
Luca serves a customer whilst brushing his blonde curly hair from his face, like surfer waves that cascade down his forehead. He always wears a silver nose ring in one of his nostrils and his deep blue eyes are recognisable from a mile away.
He thanks the elderly woman and sweeps the cafe until he sees me. His lips twitch up into a smile and he holds up a hand to greet me. “Hey man.”
“Hey,” I walk closer and drop my backpack onto the floor.
“Regular latte to go?”
“Sure thing, thanks Luca.” I nod back at him and he drops his eye into a wink.
Luca is the biggest flirt I’ve ever known. But unfortunately his dating life is pretty much non-existent. He goes on dates, sure. What happens after the first date is the non-existent part.
I feel for him. It’s obvious how much he wants love, how much he wants someone to share his life with but sometimes he’s a little overbearing and intense with how invested he becomes. But he’s a good friend and I hope sometime soon he finds the perfect person for him after kissing hundreds of frogs.
“River,” I hear Demi’s voice as she emerges from the backroom. “Well isn’t this a pleasure to see you on this fine Wednesday morning.”
Demi grins wildly at me, her dark curly hair bouncing around her head, glowing golden brown skin. Even whilst working as a barista, she still manages to look flawless every time.
“Ready for my fix,” I motion my head to Luca as he prepares my drink.
She walks towards the counter and leans her elbows on it. “Back with the sign in town again?”
“Sure am,” I nod and knock the cardboard with my knuckles.
Luca prepares my drink and slips on a paper lid before sliding it across the counter towards me. “They need more people like you, Riv,” he offers me a smile, Demi nods in agreement beside him. “Imagine what the world would be like if we had hundreds of you planted across the planet.”
Demi fakes a grimace. “Don’t want to think about that possibility.”
I roll my eyes towards her playfully. “You love me Demi and you know it.”
“Don’t tell that to Troy,” she laughs quietly. “You know how jealous he gets.”
She’s joking. Troy is my best friend. He has been my best friend since I started University. That’s how this friendship group formed and I’ve always been grateful for the connections that I’ve made. Without Troy I wouldn’t have met Demi and without Demi we wouldn’t have met Luca.
It’s a serious chain of events but that’s what makes us unique because we’re all so different. In a good way.
“How long are you going to work today?” Luca questions as I pop the top off my coffee and rip open a sachet of sugar.
I shrug. “Depends how I’m feeling but probably a couple hours.”
Demi folds her arms across her chest and shakes her head. “I have no idea how you have the confidence to do it,” she stares back at me in awe. “Especially when you wear that blindfold. You’re literally putting your trust into these strangers when they could do anything to you.”
“Yeah,” I agree and fit the lid back on, bringing it to my lips to take a small sip. “Waiting for the day I get punched in the stomach but it’ll be worth it for everyone I’ve helped along the way.”
Luca leans down to rest his chin on his fist. “Awww,” he stares up at me, bashing his light eyelashes. “You’re such a hero.”
Demi swats Luca’s arm and then he chuckles. “You are, River.” She tells me seriously. “When I tell people about you they’re in complete shock for your selflessness. You really are amazing and I know you’ve helped lots of people.”
“Thanks, Demi,” I fold my fingers around my cup even further. “Hey, what’s going on friday?”
“Don’t know,” she shrugs. “Need to ask Troy about it. But summer is coming up and we’ve got lots of lost time to make up for because everyone has been so stupidly busy recently.”
Luca puffs out a breath. “Agreed,” he leans up and folds his arms across his chest. “Do you even know who I had to go on a date with last week because no one was available?”
“Who?”
He widens his blue eyes, preparing me for what he’s about to say. “Remember that guy from Asda?”
Then suddenly I take a breath realising who this person is. “No, you didn’t.”
“Yes.”
“No, Luca. Come on.”
Demi leans forward and clocks eyes with me. “I tried to tell him but he wouldn’t listen.”
I turn my attention back to Luca who is now burying his head in his hands. “You said he smelt like blue cheese and wotsits. And he said some really creepy things.”
“Yeah but–”
“But what?” I laugh loudly. “You really need to start taking your dating life seriously because you mope far too much for someone who goes on dates every week.”
“Thank you!” Demi explains, Luca shoots her down with a stare.
Luca rolls his eyes and pushes back into the counter. “I was desperate, okay? Don’t shoot me whilst I’m already down.”
I take a look at Demi and share an empathetic glance with her. He definitely takes his dating experiences out on himself when they don’t go to plan or when he’s so desperate he goes out with the guys he doesn’t even like and are borderline creepy.
“He will come, Luca. Maybe focus on yourself for a little bit,” I say truthfully.
Eventually he glances at me. “Focus on myself?”
“Yeah,” I nod with confidence. “Being happy doesn’t always have to resonate from another person. Finding happiness within yourself is where you live with purpose. Relying on someone else isn’t healthy but having them add to your happiness is different. Focus on you, Luca. I think you need some TLC.”
Luca snorts. “Yeah, from a man.”
Both Demi and I sigh at the same time. There is no getting to this guy. “Anyway,” I step away from the counter. “I need to go.”
I tuck my hand into my pocket and retrieve a five pound note and slide it across the wooden top. Demi takes it and walks to the till, she scurries for the change but I shake my head. “Keep it,” I wave her down. “See you guys later or on Friday.”
Luca holds up a hand. “See ya, River.”
“Bye,” Demi offers me a smile as she slams the register shut.
I head out of the cafe and head into town with my cardboard sign. It usually gets busy over lunch so I like to set up just before, people taking lunch breaks or getting away from home for a couple of hours. It’s all about prime time to help as many people as I can.
Once my mask is on and I hold the sign between my fingers, I stand and wait. A lot of people don’t understand why I wear the mask, why I don’t want to see the person I’m talking to. Of course I do but I want to give them a safe space where they can speak freely without their identity being exposed.
It’s a sign of trust.
So far it has worked well. I’ve only taken the blindfold off a couple of times but mostly it stays on and I respect their privacy.
I know I’ve been standing here for at least thirty or so minutes. A lady with money issues is concerned about how she’s going to feed her son. I gave her a hug and she cried on my shoulder. In return I told her about some charities that she can approach for help.
Then I had someone else tell me their day has been shitty because the university they wanted to get into declined their grades and now they don’t know what to do. I reminded them that when one door shuts, another opens. Life doesn’t stop when things don’t go your way, it gives you new opportunities and new adventures.
But then I’m met with silence for a few moments. I can hear footsteps around me, chatter, laughter and the sounds of cars zooming past in the distance.
“Hi.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Hi. How are you today?”
“Can I get a hug?”
I notice how my shoulders relax because I recognise his voice but I can’t locate from where. I’ve heard hundreds of peoples voices, spoken to so many people but this voice, it’s so familiar.
“Of course.”
My arms widen and I’m engulfed into a hug. It’s tight and has so much meaning. I can hear his heart thump into mine when his chin rests on the tip of my shoulder. The scent of fresh soap and sharp aftershave wafts into my face.
“Thank you,” he says, like he deeply means it. “You really helped me when I needed to see light in a really, really dark time.” Although his voice is shaking, I can tell how much it meant to him.
I open my eyes beneath the blindfold even though I cannot see a thing. All my senses are alerting me because I’ve been fretting non-stop since our last encounter.
It’s him.
The guy I haven’t stopped thinking about because of the things he said. It’s been at least a month since we met, since I took him for a drink at the cafe and gave him time and a safe space to offload.
I hug him impossibly tighter. Relieved that he managed to find his way out of this with the help of his friends and family and his own inner fight.
Neither of us say anything and when I pull back I reach to take off my blindfold but he grabs my wrist to stop me. I find my throat clenching suddenly. “Don’t,” he mumbles. “I just wanted to say thank you. For giving up your time for me. I appreciate it more than you know. I found my sign and that sign was you. You have no idea how grateful I am.”
My heart thrashes inside my chest like I’ve drunk my first RedBull. I can barely breathe because even though this situation is fulfilling, I hate that I can’t see him with my own eyes now. But I respect his wishes for me not to take off my blindfold.
“I’m pleased to know that you’re in a better place now,” I say as he drops his hands and suddenly everything feels colder than I thought it would.
I hear him inhale slowly. “Getting there, day by day.”
The corners of my mouth flick upwards. “Small progress is still progress.”
“Thank you again. I’ll stop bothering you now,” he laughs awkwardly. Is he nervous? I don’t want him to be nervous.
I open my mouth to speak but I know I’m alone. He’s gone. I want to call out, you were never bothering me. But when I whip off my blindfold and turn around, he’s nowhere to be seen. Completely vanished.
A part of me wishes that I stopped him so that we could chat but sometimes it’s best to let people move on from opening up. Sometimes it doesn’t need to go further.
. . .
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Hello my loves. I hope you're enjoying so far.
Do you guys prefer dual POV stories to just one POV? This will go back and forth between River and Alex!
Owww I absolutely adore these characters, this book already means so much to me!
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