00:00The Daily Grind sat on the corner of University Avenue in Boulder, Colorado,
00:05just a short walk from the University of Colorado campus.
00:08I started stopping in during my sophomore year because the coffee was cheap
00:12and the place stayed open late for cramming.
00:15That was where I first noticed her, Emma.
00:19She worked the evening shift behind the counter,
00:22sleeves rolled up on her white button-down,
00:24her brown hair always escaping its ponytail
00:27and little strands that she'd tuck back with the back of her wrist.
00:31She moved like someone who had somewhere better to be,
00:35but still gave every customer her full attention.
00:38I liked that about her. I liked it a lot.
00:42I never said more than, large black, please, for weeks.
00:47Then, one Tuesday, I overheard her talking to the manager while I waited for my drink.
00:54Med school applications are due next month, Emma said.
00:57Voice low, but steady.
01:00I'm working these shifts so I don't drown in loans.
01:03My anatomy professor says I need more clinical hours, but I can't quit here yet.
01:09The manager laughed.
01:11You're tougher than half the doctors I know.
01:14You'll get in.
01:15Yeah, well, I better.
01:17I didn't move across the country to fail now.
01:21I replayed that conversation in my head the whole walk home.
01:26That night, I stood in front of the bathroom mirror in my apartment and practiced out loud.
01:31Hey, Emma, right?
01:34I've seen you here a bunch.
01:36You study medicine?
01:37That's impressive.
01:38I'm in computer science.
01:40Way less intense.
01:42You want to grab a real coffee sometime?
01:45Not from here, obvious.
01:46I sounded like an idiot.
01:48I tried again.
01:49Hey, I'm Alex.
01:51You make the best lattes on campus.
01:54Also, I've overheard your pre-med.
01:56That's badass.
01:58Any chance you'd want to study together sometime?
02:00Or not study?
02:02Whatever.
02:03I gave myself a month.
02:05I asked ChatGPT for lines, memorized them, changed them to sound less robotic.
02:11My roommate, Alfred, walked in on me one evening and caught the whole thing.
02:17Dude, you're still rehearsing?
02:19He said, dropping his backpack on the couch.
02:21Shut up.
02:22I'm doing it this time.
02:23Next week, I swear.
02:26Alfred grinned and leaned against the doorframe.
02:29Just be normal.
02:31Ask your name first, and then how are days going?
02:34Girls like that.
02:35Don't lead with your major like a nerd.
02:37Yeah, yeah, I know.
02:41No, you don't.
02:42But go get her, man.
02:44Worst she says is no.
02:46I nodded like I believed him.
02:48The evening it happened, I was walking home down University Avenue.
02:54It wasn't that late, maybe 9.30.
02:57Streetlights buzzed overhead.
02:59Across the narrow road, under the old stone bridge by the county courthouse, I saw her.
03:05Emma.
03:07Same ponytail, same quick stride.
03:10She was heading the same direction.
03:12Earbuds in, probably listening to some lecture.
03:15And then it went wrong.
03:17A gap in the old stone wall beside the courthouse.
03:20Some maintenance hole the city never fixed right.
03:23A shadow shot out, thick arm wrapping around her waist, another hand clamping hard over her mouth.
03:31Emma bucked, feet kicking.
03:33One of her black sneakers flew off and landed on the sidewalk with a soft thud.
03:37The guy reached out, grabbed the shoe, and yanked her backward through the gap.
03:42I heard her muffled struggle, the scrape of her body against stone.
03:48I froze for maybe three seconds.
03:51Then, I ran across the street and stopped right in front of the opening.
03:55Cold air burned my lungs.
03:59Inside the narrow space, the guy had her pinned up against the wall.
04:02Knife in his right hand.
04:04Blade catching the faint light from the bridge.
04:07She was still struggling, but he had her good.
04:10He looked straight at me.
04:13Gray beard, sunken cheeks, maybe 40.
04:17He pressed one finger to his lips.
04:20And then, he pointed the knife at me and drew it across his own throat in one clean motion.
04:28His mouth stretched into a smile that showed too many teeth.
04:32He laughed once and dragged Emma deeper into the dark until they both disappeared behind a bend in the wall.
04:40I ran.
04:42I didn't scream, didn't call the cops, didn't go back.
04:45I sprinted the rest of the way to my apartment, locked the door, and sat on the floor with my
04:50back against it until my legs stopped shaking.
04:52I kept seeing that knife gesture.
04:56He had seen my face.
04:58He knew what I looked like.
05:01Six months passed.
05:03I never told a soul.
05:05Not Alfred, not the police, not my parents back in Denver.
05:09I avoided University Avenue entirely.
05:12I switched to a different cafe across campus.
05:14Every time I heard footsteps behind me at night, my stomach dropped.
05:20I had nightmares where the guy found me instead.
05:23Where Emma's eyes stared at me while he finished whatever he started.
05:29I wondered what happened to her.
05:33Then, last week, I walked past the old cafe on a whim.
05:37The sign still said, The Daily Grind.
05:40I went in.
05:42There was this new barista.
05:44Short blonde hair.
05:46Nose ring.
05:47Tattoos peeking from under her sleeves.
05:50She looked like someone who laughed easy and didn't take ****.
05:54Different from Emma, but just as pretty in her own way.
05:59I ordered a large black and I lingered at the counter while she made it.
06:03You new here?
06:05She asked.
06:06Yeah.
06:08My voice came out steadier than I expected.
06:11I'm Alex.
06:13Sophie.
06:14She wiped her hands on her apron.
06:16You go to see you?
06:18Computer science.
06:19Junior year.
06:20You?
06:21Nursing.
06:22Second year.
06:23I used to come in here all the time for reasons.
06:28And then life got weird.
06:30She leaned on the counter.
06:32Closer now.
06:33Life gets weird for everybody.
06:35You look like you've got a story behind those dark circles.
06:39I hesitated.
06:41I saw something bad happen once.
06:45Right down the street.
06:47Didn't do anything about it.
06:49Guy saw my face.
06:50I've been scared **** since.
06:53That's why I disappeared from here.
06:56Sophie's expression softened, but didn't pity.
07:00That sucks.
07:01I'm sorry.
07:02You ever think about reporting it now?
07:05Anonymously, I mean?
07:07Every day.
07:08Still working up to it.
07:10I took a breath.
07:12Anyway.
07:14You make better coffee than the last person who worked here.
07:17And you seem...
07:19I don't know.
07:20Real.
07:22She grinned.
07:24Real?
07:25I'll take it.
07:26Most guys just say I have nice eyes and ask for my number.
07:30I was getting there.
07:33Sophie laughed outright.
07:35The sound bright in the quiet cafe.
07:38She wrote her number on the side of my cup with a sharpie.
07:41That was the best day of my life.
07:45I simply forgot about Emma as soon as I walked out of the cafe.
07:49The sound bright in the cafe.
07:50The sound bright in the cafe.
07:50The sound bright in the cafe.
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