Chapter 2 Guardian Angel

"Damn! I'm going to be late again. Third time this week, and it's only Friday," Amy muttered as she frantically pulled on her work clothes. She tossed a quick glance at her phone screen, confirming that she had maybe five minutes to get out the door if she wanted any hope of making it on time. Grabbing her worn-out shoes, she slipped her feet into them and dashed out of her tiny apartment, not even glancing around for food. Breakfast was a luxury she couldn't afford; it had been years since she'd eaten in the morning, probably not since she'd lived at the orphanage.

Amy sighed as she jogged down the street, memories of the orphanage tugging at her thoughts. It hadn't been much, but it was the only real home she'd ever known. Turning eighteen had been a nightmare, especially with the orphanage's rule that she had to leave when she became an adult. With just a few dollars to her name, she'd barely managed to rent a small apartment and buy enough food to get by. It had taken over a week of desperate searching to land a job at Café Mocha's. And while the pay wasn't great, it was enough to keep her going-barely. There were days when her paycheck just covered rent and maybe a meal or two, and others when she simply went hungry.

Some nights, Amy would look up at the stars from her little window and wish for a miracle, something to make life just a bit easier. But those were just fleeting thoughts, wishes whispered into the dark. She knew better than to expect them to come true.

Lost in her thoughts, she almost walked past the café, catching herself just in time. As soon as she stepped inside, the warm smell of coffee and freshly baked pastries filled her senses. Her best friend, Emily, was working the counter and immediately greeted her with a wide smile. But as Amy returned it, she saw Emily's expression fall slightly, her friend's eyes narrowing with worry.

"Amy, you look really tired," Emily said, her tone gentle but concerned.

Amy forced a dismissive smile. "I just didn't get a good night's sleep."

Emily frowned, reading right through her attempt to brush it off. "It's the man in the cloak again, isn't it?"

Knowing there was no point in lying-she was terrible at it anyway-Amy nodded. "Yeah. He showed up again last night. I spotted him just as he was leaving a box of cupcakes on my doorstep. I tried to catch up to him, but he just disappeared into the darkness."

Emily tilted her head thoughtfully. "How are you so sure it's a man?"

Amy shrugged, thinking back to the fleeting glimpse she'd caught of him before he vanished. "I saw he was wearing men's shoes. And I think I saw a bit of a beard, too."

Emily looked unconvinced. "Maybe he's just a well-wisher. Maybe even a friend."

"But I don't have any friends besides you, Em. And I don't know anyone else who would do something like that." Amy's voice softened, her frustration mixing with confusion. "Who could it possibly be?"

Before Emily could say anything else, Mr. Patterson, the café's grumpy owner, appeared from the back, arms crossed and a stern look on his face. "I don't pay you two to gossip. Get back to work," he huffed, his large belly swaying slightly with every step.

As soon as he disappeared back into the kitchen, Amy and Emily exchanged looks and burst into quiet giggles. Emily, ever the jokester, attempted to mimic Mr. Patterson's walk, exaggerating the sway of her slim waist in an effort to match his. It was a hopeless attempt, and the sight of it made Amy laugh harder, grateful for the lighthearted start to an otherwise exhausting day.

"Alright, let's get to work before he catches us again," Emily said with a grin, heading back to the counter.

The morning rush was relentless, and before long, the café was packed with customers, the air filled with clinking cups, muffled conversations, and the sound of the espresso machine. Amy rushed from table to table, her feet aching as she balanced trays and juggled orders. After a couple of hours of nonstop work, she felt her energy drain and decided to take a quick break.

Amy slipped into the kitchen, where she found her co-worker Matt organizing some supplies. "Hey, Matt," she greeted him, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead.

"Hey, Amy," Matt replied, smiling warmly.

"Could you cover my tables for a few minutes? I just need a little break," she asked, her voice pleading.

"Sure, no problem," Matt replied, giving her a reassuring nod. Amy sighed in relief, grateful for a moment to breathe.

Leaning against the wall in the back, she closed her eyes and let her mind drift, her thoughts inevitably returning to the mysterious man who kept appearing in her life. It wasn't the first time he'd left her something on her doorstep-there had been cookies, a warm scarf during a particularly cold night, even a note once that simply said, "Hang in there." She didn't understand why he was doing this, or how he always managed to disappear before she could speak to him. And she wondered if she'd ever find out who he was.

Her break didn't last long, as the kitchen door swung open and Emily popped her head in. "Hey, your tables are getting restless. You good to come back?"

Amy nodded, pushing herself away from the wall. She followed Emily back into the café, where the crowd had thinned slightly. She spent the rest of the shift in a steady rhythm, working alongside Emily and Matt until, finally, the lunch rush subsided, leaving the café quiet.

As she wiped down a table, a familiar voice caught her attention. "Excuse me, miss?" She looked up to see an older woman smiling kindly at her, holding a small wrapped box.

"Yes?" Amy said, eyeing the box curiously.

"This was left at the front door. It has your name on it," the woman said, handing it to her.

Amy took the box, her heartbeat quickening. She had a strong feeling about who it was from. After the woman left, she unwrapped it carefully, revealing a small, intricately made cupcake with a note attached. "For when you need a little sweetness in life."

Emily peered over her shoulder, her eyes widening. "Is that from him?"

Amy nodded, feeling a strange mixture of gratitude and frustration. Whoever this man was, he had an uncanny ability to know just when she needed a pick-me-up. And yet, she wished he would reveal himself, just once.

Emily nudged her playfully. "I'm telling you, he's like your guardian angel. Maybe he's some wealthy guy who just likes making people happy."

Amy rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help but smile a little. "Or maybe he's just trying to drive me crazy with all these little mysteries."

They both laughed, and for the first time that day, Amy felt a bit of lightness in her heart. Despite the hard work and the long hours, there were still moments that made everything worth it. And whoever this mysterious man was, he had a way of reminding her that she wasn't entirely alone in the world.

When her shift finally ended, Amy and Emily walked out of the café together, the sky already darkening as evening approached. They talked about their plans for the weekend, and for a brief moment, Amy allowed herself to forget the weight of her struggles.

As she reached the door to her apartment building, Amy paused and looked around, half-expecting to catch a glimpse of the man in the shadows. But there was no one there. She shook her head, laughing softly to herself. Someday, she thought, I'll figure out who you are.

But until then, she would keep moving forward, one day at a time, with a little help from her friends-and perhaps, from a guardian angel who always seemed to know when she needed him most.