Sunlight slipped through a gap in the curtains, forcing Vivian to wake from her beautiful dream. Still blinking, she tried to clear her slightly blurry vision. After turning off the alarm that showed seven in the morning, she began her usual ritual: a cup of warm tea in the quiet little kitchen, while gazing out at London's bright sky through the window.
Not wanting to waste any time, Vivian quickly finished her chores until sweat dampened her body.
After freshening up, she tidied her brown hair, grabbed her canvas bag, and locked the door to her apartment.
As she pedaled her bicycle along the same streets she had traveled for years, Vivian's thoughts drifted to the struggle she had shared with her older brother. Making it through the difficult days after the accident and finally reaching this point had not been easy. Even though they lived simply, Vivian felt deeply grateful.
Arriving at the Café
Vivian was immediately swept up in the bustle. Today was special: it was the anniversary of the café where she worked. As an expression of gratitude, the entire team was holding a community service event. Vivian and her team headed to Meison Orphanage, while Emma—her best friend—and the other staff stayed at the café to manage the promotions.
The welcome at the orphanage always warmed her heart. The moment the van doors opened, the children greeted them with cheers. Vivian was immediately surrounded by their natural warmth.
"Welcome!!"
The greeting was spontaneous, yet it still left a deep impression on the crew.
"Miss Vivian!"
Vivian suddenly found herself facing the outstretched arms of a twelve-year-old boy. Among the other children, he was the one who always wore the brightest, most radiant smile.
"Theo, you've gotten so big."
The café owner, employees, and nurses there all knew that Vivian was a warm and patient person. Even the other children came over, eager to tell Vivian about all sorts of things. Her affection was so sincere that it touched their hearts every time they interacted with her.
"You look so pretty today."
A little girl touched a strand of Vivian's brown hair. She was Theo's younger sister. Vivian smiled at the sweet-faced little girl and gently stroked her hair. "Thank you so much. You're pretty too, Lily."
These children no longer felt the love of their parents. Vivian could sense their sadness. Loss. Though her heart ached at the thought of them growing up without parents—like her, having lost the memories of that love—Vivian tried to stay strong.
But thanks to the orphanage's continued efforts to protect and care for them, the children could still show their happiness. Even so, their smiles always touched her deeply, making it impossible for her to hold back her tears. Vivian hugged Lily and Theo as tightly as she could. The others joined in the embrace as well.
"Thank you, everyone."
The event went smoothly. Feeling satisfied and honored, Vivian and her team finally said goodbye and headed back to the café.
After the community service event ended, all the employees got ready to handle their respective duties.
Ding-ding!
That was the sound of the bell whenever a customer came in. Some only stopped to pick up their orders, while others stayed and sat for a while. It was obvious that every seat was occupied. Anyone who wanted to stop by had no choice but to take their order to go because every spot was full.
But what Vivian loved was that everyone came in with a smile. She was grateful that, all this time and even now, she had never encountered a customer with a gloomy face. Whenever they came to the café happy, her heart felt happy right along with them.