Coffee With A Goddess

A short story about the protagonist having a lovely chat with a member of divinity.

Coffee With A Goddess

It was all a dream, you see. No, no--you come back here! I promise it isn’t one of those stories.

If anything, it was a lovely chat.
You see, I knew I was dreaming; there are hardly any floating coffee houses. At least, none that I’m aware of. I was sitting in a booth, being one of many. The place was pretty empty on account of the dream-logic I must have been undergoing in my subconscious mind, which continued to spit out this fantastical hallucination of the mind. Although I knew it wasn’t real, the woman who sat across from me was very much real. Something about her presence. How she held her coffee cup, sipping it lightly. I couldn’t tell who she was. But she was bright. Wore white. White hair. Everything about her had a literal and metaphorical glow. There might have even been a few sprinkles of sparkles here and there when she turned her head to look out the window.

“Um…. Do we know each other?” I asked, scratching my leg. Somehow, my pants were on. I was thankful it wasn’t that kind of a dream. The mysterious goddess before me--the one I somehow knew was a goddess--let out a soft sigh, resting her chin on hand, elbow planting into the table.

“You called for help and I came,” she muttered, eyes locked on a cloud. A dragon flew through it, making the mist scatter. It garnered a slight smirk on her face, witnessing the majestic dragon of gold and silver zoom by the window of the floating coffee house, but it faded. He gaze turned to face mine. I don’t know why, but her eyes made me jump. They could cut obsidian, if they wanted, it seemed. “My name is….”

She told me her name, and I nodded.

“It’s very nice to meet you,” I followed with, offering a hand to shake. She looked taken aback by the gesture, but before I could pull my hand back with an apology on my lips, she took it, giving a dramatic up-and-down with the motion. Her smile returned. I offered her my name, though it was mumbled due to my nerves. I wasn’t used to being around someone who was so…. Pretty. Something about her took my breath away, and I knew there was no attempt on her end to woo me. She was just existing; being herself. And somehow, that was more than enough to prove to me that she was a goddess indeed. Perhaps it was dream logic. I just knew. Somehow.

“You’re a goddess?” I inquired, unable to help myself. She sipped her coffee in response, holding the mug with both hands. She let out a little shiver, as if she had been cold. Or perhaps it was the caffeine doing its job? Did…. Caffeine work on the divine? As above, so below, I considered.

“That I am,” she answered, lowering the coffee a little, then proceeded to take another sip. “This always was the best place to get some coffee.”

“Where…. Are we, exactly?” I asked her again. She smiled once more, explaining coordinates and directions I couldn’t even begin to piece together. Being a dream--simply because it had to be--I just nodded a smiled back. But at this, she knew better.

“You didn’t understand a word of what I told you, did you?”

“No ma’am,” I nodded. A tiny laugh escaped as her face scrunched with glee. Even that looked fitting for her. Everything she did--every motion she made--was like that of a work of art. It couldn’t be put into words. It had to be witnessed.

But, as the fool I am, I’ll certainly try.

I no longer became worried about my problems on earth. Wherever we were, our problems didn’t seem to follow. She spoke of her duties helping those on earth, going about their daily lives. The struggles she helped them deal with. The challenges she faced, simply because she was a goddess. She went on, and on, and I was more than happy to listen. Truth be told, I was never big on talking. And I enjoyed listening to her. Even when she spoke of the awful things she had to endure, there was a hint of hope in her voice. Like nothing really mattered, at the end of the day. Only the good that endured, and always would. Is it silly of me to admit she motivated me in some way? Even when the conversation was gloomy, unlike the brilliant white fluff balls of clouds outside our window.

“….and after I saved that man’s farm,” the goddess continued to talk, giving a little wave of her hand, “he then decides he’s going to go back to the woman I saved him from. She torched everything again, and he blamed me for it.”

“No way!” I said, now having my own coffee to drink. It just sort of appeared before me in the middle of our conversation. I didn’t question it, enjoying that it was made perfectly for me. Even had cream and sugar, from the taste of it. Real high-end stuff.

“He really did,” she sighed, shaking her head, chuckling a little. “I’ve tried to help so many, and people hardly know my name. I’m not one of the divine folks talk about. I’d be surprised if anyone in your day and age has even heard of my name.”
“Well, I think you’re doing a fantastic job,” I told her with a grin. At this, she seemed surprised again by my actions. There was no smile on her face--just confusion.

“You…. Think I’m doing well?” she asked. It was the first time I think I saw her act sheepish the entire time. I suppose we all have things we’re sensitive about.

“I do,” I nodded. “I’ve been feeling lonely, and frankly, talking with you--I don’t feel lonely anymore.”

Again, she smiled.

“Then perhaps I am doing a good job then,” she mentioned. “I think you’re a wonderful human being.”

The dream continued for a while, but before I left, we were gifted by the sight of more dragons flying by, darting through and around the clouds, making our coffee talk all that much more pleasant.

Author's Note

I'm trying something a little different; I'm not used to writing short-short fictions like this. Tell me what you think!

Reviews

[Kady R.]

Hii Kane,

Stumbled across this story and I'm glad I did. From the title I thought the goddess would be a metaphor but it was a literal goddess which I found made the story even more intresting. I like how this interaction was at the coffee shop (I love coffee shops). There's an innocence with the protagonist that I enjoyed, and how he was quite the observer. Wonderful story!!

Thanks for sharing.
Kady

[Kane Hagwood]

Hey Kady,

Thanks for stopping by and reading my story! I wanted to do something a little different. And maybe a little out there.
-Kane

[Kady R.]

It is well written, congratulations. 🤗🤗🥰🥰

[Thomas W Case]

Tremendous work. I love the title. Excellent.

[Kane Hagwood]

Hey, thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. And thank you for giving it a read! :)

[Marie Kinnett]

Really creative and interesting. Caught my attention really quickly. Keep writing and Ill definitely read if there is more :)

[Kane Hagwood]

Hey, thank you for reading my story :) I'm glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for stopping by!

[Marie Kinnett]

np it was really good. Definitely enjoyed it

[Jansy]

Kane, I like how you take something as ordinary as coffee and turn it into a quiet encounter with the divine. The goddess feels real--not because of her glow, but because of her empathy, her weariness, and that flicker of doubt when she asks if she’s doing well. That moment alone says so much about being human.

The floating coffee shop, the dragons drifting by, the magically appearing coffee-- all of it gives the story a surreal, luminous quality that lingers long after reading. It’s introspective and full of quiet hope, a dream that feels just close enough to touch.

And I have to say, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone actually tried building a floating coffee shop in China someday. Or maybe they already have, haha.

Meanwhile, here I am, frequenting my local coffee spots, still wondering why I never get to meet these beautiful immortal women.

Beautifully written, my friend. It lingers.

-James

[Kane Hagwood]

Thank you for the review Jansy. I wanted to try something a little different: writing a short story that's both short and (hopefully) satisfying. I'm glad you enjoyed it :)