Manna hummed in sympathy at Muffy’s predicament - something she understood completely. “They think we’re cattle,” she observed. “Like we asked to be treated like servants just because we’re serving them. It’s incredible. If I’m not being blamed for a fifty cents menu increase, I’m being shouted at for bringing someone two glasses of Coke at once. It’s not my fault if they keep drinking it down to the ice while I’m busy with one of my other tables! They should be thankful I’m making sure they don’t have to go without a drink while I’m being run ragged by my 12-top!”
As she began to eat her food, she relaxed little by little into the chair, then stared out over Harbour Pointe’s landscape. Times like this, a sense of utter despondence slipped over her, and she had to fight to try and keep it at bay. It was far more difficult today than it should be.
“Maybe it was a mistake for me to come here,” she said quietly. “Maybe I should’ve stayed with my husband.” She hadn’t mentioned him to Muffy before, but the paleness where her wedding band used to be on her tanned, rough hands was no doubt glaringly obvious.
•。 ❀ 𝒜ll Muffy could gather herself to do in lieu of accompanying her voice with the conspicuous frustration of her own was merely nod - sharing her sentiments wholeheartedly, as unfortunate as that was to bond over with some of those grotesque male patrons. “It honestly makes me lose my faith in humanity with how horrible and simply awful these customers treat us - as if we are the dirt beneath their shoe. Does it not cross their mind that we are people, too? That we have our own feelings and emotions that we put aside to serve them with a plastered smile on our faces? If anything... it’s just disheartening to know that if they choose to disrespect us, then they must show that dark and ugly side of them to the people in their lives. They should be ashamed of themselves.”
𝒮tepping off her imaginary pedestal, the waitress huffed and relieved the pressure building in her chest - running her intricate fingers through her luscious blonde locks with her gaze following that of her new friend to beyond the balcony. With summer departing and leaving room for autumn to arrive, it made her wonder if the trees in this city would change colors - painting the landscape in a wide variety of warm hues. It was hard enough to believe that she had already been here long enough to see the seasons change - time slipping from her grasp.
𝒲ithin that the moment, the heart of her new friend was unlocked - and out poured the two statements that had startled Muffy, who was unexpecting of that sudden disclosure; yet, it meant something that the woman was comfortable enough in her presence to air those grievances. She shifted her position in her seat to face the dispirited brunette, placing her hands over the one where the paleness around her ring finger carried a tragic story with no happy ending - and it must have burdened her every single day.
“𝓜anna?” A soft smile graced her supple lips. “I know that you and I do not know each other very well, but... I do not believe it was a mistake for us to meet - for you to enter my life. You have welcomed me with open arms when I first came to the city, and it was without a doubt that I knew that you have one of the hugest and most loving hearts I have ever encountered. I understand it may be difficult now, but... please never forget that you are amazing. You are so wonderful. And if someone cannot appreciate that... then they do not deserve you and the outpouring of love that you have to offer. ♥“ Muffy fell silent and squeezed her hand gently.