Quiet Courage

Courage isn't always loud. Sometimes it's the quiet decision to sit in the same

coffee shop corner booth every Wednesday evening, even when your hands shake holding the

cup. I started coming here after losing my job at twenty-three. The rejection letter

felt like proof I wasn't enough. That first Wednesday, I chose the corner because I could

watch everyone else living their lives while I figured out how to rebuild mine.

Week three, she appeared. Same booth, different side. Auburn hair always

in a messy bun, fingers stained with what looked like paint. She'd order black

coffee and sketch in a worn leather journal, completely absorbed in her world.