A few lines I happened to scribble upon the back of a café napkin seemed, by some quiet providence, rather too fitting to keep to myself. And so, here it is — unpolished, unedited, and offered just as it first came to me — for you all to read and, I hope, to enjoy.
FADE IN:
INT. SMALL FLAT – EARLY MORNING
Grey light creeps through half-drawn blinds. The city hums somewhere distant. A kettle sighs; the click of a switch punctuates the silence.
CAMERA:
Close on a chipped mug. Steam rises. The hand that lifts it trembles just enough to notice.
VOICEOVER (dry, thoughtful, male/female):
Just me and my coffee for company. The usual arrangement. Brown liquid, black thoughts. It’s a reliable partnership — it doesn’t talk back, doesn’t flinch, doesn’t ask how I’ve been sleeping. You can’t disappoint a cup of coffee.
CUT TO:
The narrator sits at the table, staring at nothing. City noise seeps through thin walls.
VOICEOVER (continues):
Out there, the world’s already spinning — meetings, traffic, people manufacturing urgency. And here I am, orbiting this mug, pretending the stillness means something profound.
CAMERA:
A flicker of sunlight hits the rim of the cup. Dust floats in the beam.
VOICEOVER (wry):
I tell myself I like the solitude. But that’s the sort of lie caffeine helps you believe. Truth is, it’s not solitude. It’s rehearsal for extinction — done politely, with milk and two sugars, or not.
CUT TO:
The narrator exhales. The steam mingles with breath. Somewhere, a phone buzzes — ignored.
VOICEOVER (softer, introspective):
Still, the coffee’s hot. The silence is civilised. And for ten blessed minutes, I can pretend that being alone is a choice.
SILENCE.
A faint sip. The sound of the spoon stirring.
VOICEOVER (final line, low, resigned):
Just me and my coffee. The last dependable relationship in town.
FADE OUT.
This work constitutes my original creation and is protected by copyright as my intellectual property. It is shared here solely for the enjoyment of readers who may appreciate a piece that is at once light in spirit and yet touched with a measure of profundity.
For the avoidance of doubt:
- No portion of this material may be copied, reproduced, adapted, or otherwise utilised, whether in whole or in part, with or without modification, without my prior written consent.
- This prohibition applies irrespective of whether the work is intended to be used for a commercial purpose—such as an advertisement, commercial, or short film—or for any other public or private use.
All rights are expressly reserved to Farahdeen Khan.
