It was a chilly winter morning, soft grey clouds littered throughout the skies but bore no rain, sharp wind cut swiftly through the piles of sleeping leaves, disturbing them from their slumber. The hands of the clock were barely past 7am, and the city was still stirring from its silent night. Somewhere in that city, the glass doors of a café swung open to start business for the day.

And there she was.

There she sat in the café, one of the first customers who had entered, a cup of hot coffee on the table beside her, watching the world pass her by.

She saw the business man walk in, checking his watch for the time and quickly order a cappuccino.

She saw the group of school kids walk in, chattering and bickering between themselves while trying to decide what they wanted.

She saw the mother walk in, telling the waitress how she worried whether her kids would wake up in time for school.

She saw the jogger walk in with his dog, slightly out of breath as he ordered an iced coffee, smiling sheepishly at the look that he got in response.

She saw the waitress drop a bag of coffee beans as she left the storeroom, an expression of exasperation on her face when she noticed them roll under the counter.

She watched the business man jump in reaction as his name was called, hurriedly grabbing his coffee with a quick thanks and rush out the door.

She watched the group of school kids take a seat at a table, and then each call out which order belonged to whom when the waiter brought over a tray full of coffee and hot chocolate.

She watched the mother give a warm smile of gratitude as she took her drink and muffin, starting a new conversation with the person behind her.

She watched the jogger tease his dog as he waited for his order, only to be dragged out the door by his pet after he picked up his drink.

She watched the waitress sweep up the fallen coffee beans, bending down the get the ones that had rolled under the counter.

The hands of the clock slowly swung around and landed quietly on 9 o’clock.

But no one had noticed the lady sitting in the corner with her now lukewarm coffee.

No one had realised, that during that time, her eyes had stopped seeing.

No one had realised, that her ears had stopped hearing.

That her heart had stopped beating.

And yet time continued to move forward, as she sat in the café, a cup of cold coffee on the table beside her, watching the world through lifeless eyes.