The old man and the cafe

Authored by: Ahmed bin Sulaiman Allahib Binding: Cover Volumes: One Paper: Shamooh Size: 14 × 21 Summary: The place was not clean enough, footprints were clear, and small, hidden scraps of paper remained in its corners. The first moment was not good news, the smell of smoke emanated from the smokers' section. I went to the empty other section, took my place in the middle of the café searching for quiet away from the windows and away from the cashier of the café. I opened my book and started reading. At the other end where the smokers are, whenever I lift my gaze, I see an old, thin-faced man with a weak build, turning his eyes around him. The years pass in his features. His glasses are concave for aiming, his clothes are not elegant, and his white hair is unkempt. He sits opposite the door, as if he is watching or waiting. He was smoking with the expertise of a seasoned smoker. In front of him is a cup of coffee that looks empty, as he did not move from his place at the edge of the table. His appearance was painful, for neither the coffee nor the cigarette could revive the scattered glow of his life over the days.