The sun was barely breaking over the horizon as I pulled into the diner parking lot. I got out of my car and stretched, then shivered in the chilly air. My breathe steamed as I hurried inside the building, the lighted windows casting a warm glow on the leaf-strewn pavement.

I pushed the door open, a tinkling bell announcing my arrival. The other customers' low murmurings mixed with the soft music coming from the jukebox, while the air smelled of bacon and strawberries, setting me immediately at ease.

I took a seat at the counter and smiled as a waitress came up to me.

"What can I get you, dear?" She asked, notepad in hand.

"Hi, Dottie. Can I have a hot chocolate and some pancakes?"

"Coming right up! Will that be all?" Her blue eyes twinkled as if she had just remembered a joke.

"For now," I responded.

"Alrighty!" She bustled away, leaving me to think.

I pulled a journal and a pen from my bag, taking a moment to stop and take in the scene around me. There was an elderly man and woman, cane and walker in hand, laughing and smiling at each other. There was a middle aged man, probably in his fifties, who sat contentedly drinking his coffee and reading the paper, a plate of half-finished bacon in front of him. There was a group of teenagers sitting in the corner booth, laughing and talking loudly as they passed around the syrup. Every once in while they would shush each other and look around, making sure they weren't bothering the other customers.

The tile floor was clean but worn, and the teal leather seat I sat in was creased and creaking with age. The menu boards were faded, and a few of the backlights were out. The kitchen had a small panel facing the front, where the sizzling of sausages could be heard and the cook could pass out meals that needed to be served.

I sighed with contentment. All types of people, from all types of lives, gathered here, in this place that came out of another time.

Now in the right frame of mind, I opened my book and began to write:

It has been almost a month since I last came to this diner. What a time I've had! Everything has been so deliciously normal.

What does this mean, you may ask? Well, you see, I had a revelation, and now I see things in a different light. Nothing has changed except my perspective, but still everything has changed.

After Sam left, I took a hard look at my life. How HAD I ended up in a position where I willingly went on a date with someone like Brad? Why was a good portion of my time with Sam spent worrying about what was going to happen next, next, next?

After a bit of thought, I reasoned that I was living in the future. I didn't take time to appreciate what was happening in the moment, because a part of me was always thinking and planning and worrying about the next step. This needed to change.

So, I started being more mindful. Not all that meditation stuff, but just taking a minute to look around and notice what else is going on: the bigger picture. I think that-

At this point, Dottie came over with my food and drink, piping hot, fragrant steam curling off the top. I took a break from my writing to enjoy my food, savoring each bite of fluffy pancake and sip of whipped-cream covered chocolate. After I finished, I ordered a biscuit and a water, then resumed.

I think that this has really helped me to enjoy life more. I don't get angry or upset as often, because I can take a step back and give myself a break from my thoughts.

Now that I'm writing this all out, it seems as though I'm saying that Sam was my hero, the knight in shining armor to my damsel in distress. This is simply not true. My date with Brad was my wake up call, the thing that scared me into realized how low I had fallen. The consequent days with Sam showed me how much I worry about things I cannot change. Nothing I said would have made Sam stay. (In fact, not that it matters to the current train of thought, but he's probably having the same fun time with another girl in another state, miles and miles away from me.)

I think, what I'm trying to say through all of this is simply that I have grown. I am in a better place than I was before Sam helped me wake up, but I have done the rest on my own. Now, I can't wait to see what I do next.

Dottie is coming over with my biscuit right now. I'd better go.

As Dottie came over, I got out my purse. "That's all I'll want," I told her as she set the plate down. "What's my total?"

"Give me just a second..." she said, flipping to my order. "Ah, yes. Pancakes, hot chocolate, a biscuit- $7.50."

"Okay, thank you," I said, handing her a ten dollar bill. Keep the change."

"Thank you, dear," was her response as she tucked the bill into her apron pocket. "Have a nice day."

"Thank you, you too," I said, already spreading butter and jam on my biscuit.

********

After I finished, I packed up my journal, pen and purse and walked out to my car. I had parked under the newly-fixed neon sign. Tiffany's, I read to myself. What a cute name.

Well-fed and with a calm feeling settled deep in my chest, I started up my engine and drove away, into the sunlight and into a better future.

The End