Member-only story
MICRO FICTION | LONELINESS | SOCIETY
The Invisible Woman
Louise sat in a coffee shop on the corner of a busy street.
Her presence was as constant as the aroma of freshly brewed coffee that wafted through the air.
Every day, she claimed her favorite corner table, a small sanctuary surrounded by bustling customers and the gentle hum of chatter. The cafe was alive, filled with laughter, clinking cups, and the occasional burst of conversation.
Yet, Louise felt a cocoon woven from her loneliness. She was invisible to them.
She had long ago surrendered to. her solitude. The silence of her home was loud with memories of friendships faded and family ties frayed. Outside the coffee shop, she moved like a ghost among the living, her days blending seamlessly into one another with little to anchor her. The coffee shop, however, became her safe space, where she could sip her flat white, letting the warmth seep into her bones while observing life unfold around her.
Each cup of coffee was more than a caffeine fix. It was a connection, however, fleeting. The barista would greet her with a smile, and for a moment, Louise felt seen. Sometimes, she would eavesdrop on conversations, leaning into the laughter of strangers, her heart aching for the…
