Moonlight Cafe

Superstitious, all of them; the family, the friends, the neighbours. It seemed that the whole town was caught in the grip of superstition. Anything anyone did wrong would somehow transform into a new superstition. How could one thrive in a community where fear lurked at every corner? Today, people were more superstitious than ever.

Lily's family had repeatedly begged her not to leave home, emphasising that she could go anywhere once midnight arrived, and no one would be concerned. However, today was the worst day of the year to do anything. It was October, the spooky month and it was the thirteenth day of the month and it just so happened to fall on a Friday. It was Friday the thirteenth, widely regarded as the most unlucky day of the year. No person in their right mind would dare take any risks on this ill-fated day, let alone accept a dare. But Lily didn't believe in this nonsense.

Lily had returned home for the fall break from university, intending to use the time she had to catch up with old school friends and go to their favourite coffee shop, the "Moonlight Cafe", which curiously opened its doors after the moon had risen. She and her friends had agreed to meet at the cafe tonight. However, as her friends realised that the thirteenth day happened to fall on a Friday, one by one, they all canceled their plans. So tonight, Lily found herself alone at the Moonlight Cafe, seated at her usual table, gazing out the window at the beautiful night sky adorned with countless stars and the high-hanging moon. Outside, it was a peaceful evening compared to the atmosphere inside the cafe.

The cafe was bustling with customers despite the late hour. People from all walks of life could be found here. There was a disenchanted writer yearning for inspiration, seeking to unlock the hidden depths of his creativity. A solitary musician, haunted by a melody that danced on the edge of memory, sought solace in the enchanting embrace of the cafe's mystique. And a weary traveler, burdened by the weight of a life lived on the fringes of society, sought respite in the sanctuary of this nocturnal enclave.

The interior of the cafe was both charming and calming. The walls were adorned with elegant panels showcasing breathtaking landscapes, transporting visitors to serene realms of natural beauty. Soft music flowed from hidden speakers, its relaxing tune complementing the late-night ambiance. Amidst the buzz of animated conversations, the waiters, dressed in modern outfits, moved among the tables, taking orders and serving customers. Above all, it was a place where one could escape the hustle and bustle of the busy world and find peace of mind.

Lily sat at her table, contemplating her order. Should she stick to her usual choice, or should she venture into something new and adventurous? Still undecided, she picked up the menu book and began flipping through its pages. The first page displayed snacks like sandwiches and rolls, the second page showcased desserts, and the third page listed both cold and hot beverages. However, tonight, there seemed to be an additional, fourth page. Turning to the last page, she discovered a section titled "Secret Menu". The names of the items on this page were rather unusual, but one in particular caught her eye - "Moonbean Coffee". The name perfectly fitted the time of night the coffee was served here - a moon themed coffee for the late hours.

Lily signalled for one of the waiter and confidently placed her order – her usual cappuccino and a slice of cheesecake. The waiter acknowledged her order and promptly left. As she waited, Lily wondered whether her coffee would taste the same without her friends beside her. Her anticipation grew as she returned to gazing out the window into the night. All the effort she had put into planning to spend the night with her school friends, only for them to abandon her, left her feeling a mix of disappointment and frustration. In her opinion, they were all worrying too much.

It had been two years before they graduated from high school when they stumbled upon this cafe, a hidden gem in their own town. It was tucked away in a hidden alleyway. The alleyway which was brightly light by streetlights, was wide enough for two cars to pass each other. The strange part was that none of them had ever noticed the alleyway before, especially having crossed it numerous times on their way to and from the cinema. With curiosity gnawing, the four friends decided to check the alleyway. As they proceeded, they were greeted by a sign proclaiming the name, "Stellarnook". They were bewildered by what they found next.

The alleyway was lined with brightly lit shops, offering everything one could want and imagine. Each shop boasted an intriguing name: "Insomnia" night club, "Novella" book store, "Charm" mystical shop, "Kraken" seafood restaurant, "Trim" barber's shop, "Allure" beauty salon, "Moonlight Cafe" coffee shop, "Vinyl" record store, "Serenity" spa, "Bazaar" convenience shop, "Sundae" ice cream parlour, "Luna" boutique, "Savings" bank, and "Snail Mail" post office. How had they missed this place all these years? Had these shops opened recently? They had certainly walked past the alley on their way to the cinema that night. They would have surely noticed it then. But now, it didn't matter because they had discovered the place. Or perhaps it was the other way around, the place finding them?

After visiting each shop and carefully inspecting every item on sale and the services provided, they had one last shop to explore. The coffee shop appeared inviting from the window. Stepping inside, they felt as though they had been transported to another world, perhaps the charming streets of Europe. The cafe was filled with people of all kinds, an unusual sight for this late hour, which was already ten o'clock. After all, who would drink coffee at such a late hour? Coffee was traditionally enjoyed in the early morning, providing that much-needed boost of energy for the day ahead. The night was the time for rest and rejuvenation. If someone consumed coffee at night, they'd be up for hours, or so they were told. The person who had the idea of a nighttime coffee shop must have been fuelled by too many cups of coffee that day or night.

The four friends made the spontaneous decision to stay and experience the uniqueness of this place, particularly with insomniacs frequenting it. They never thought they would be enticed by a curious place like Moonlight Cafe. What intrigued them the most were the crystals and plants also offered by the cafe. The crystals glistened in the cafe's gentle light, and the diverse range of plants piqued their curiosity. They had never encountered anything quite so unusual yet astonishingly beautiful.

The first sip of coffee left them yearning for a second cup. The sandwiches, cakes, pies, and pastries left a delightful aftertaste in their mouths. They found it hard to resist the temptation of all the delectable offerings. They needed to exercise restraint; otherwise, they might devour the entire menu. Besides, they had to be mindful of their pocket money and not spend it all at once. They ended up ordering modest portions of various dishes and shared them among the four of them, wanting to discover each person's favourite. Lily ended up choosing the cheesecake, which she ordered every time they visited, along with a seemingly small cup of cappuccino that turned out to be quite generous in size.

Lily missed those days after starting university and had decided, along with her friends, that they would visit the coffee shop at least twice when they came back home. This fall break, they had already gone once. They had set the date for their second visit during their first one. Tonight, Lily was alone; her three friends had backed out. Did it truly matter if the thirteenth fell on a Friday? For her, it didn't.

Picking up the new top she had purchased from "Luna" out of the beautiful shopping bag, Lily silently admired it. The top would pair perfectly with a black skirt, making it suitable for any party or event. Luna was her favourite place to buy outfits from, and no clothing shop in the big city could compare. After placing the top into her crossbody bag, a waitress arrived with her coffee and cheesecake. Lily thanked her and began savouring her cheesecake, finding it to be the best she had ever tasted. The coffee still retained its familiar flavour, even in the absence of her friends.

Lily's gaze shifted from the window to the brewing machine located in front of another window, which displayed a full moon. The moon's radiant glow illuminated the surroundings, and the moon's reflection briefly appeared in her coffee before swiftly vanishing. Lily thought she had imagined the moon's reflection in her coffee. However, the moon-infused coffee began to have a strange effect on her. Something wasn't right. The exposed part of her arm, usually hidden under her shirt, appeared hairier than usual. When she checked her reflection in her pocket mirror, she noticed that her teeth seemed sharper than normal. Something was definitely off. Too much coffee, she thought. She reassured herself that the caffeine was causing her to hallucinate. Lily convinced herself that if she took a good night's sleep, everything would return to normal in the morning.