Windows To The Soul

When you pass a stranger there's not much time to analyze their eyes. Ansa grew up in a small town. This town was unlike any other. Everyone had something they could sense. Most people could sense anyone's emotions at any moment. Others could hear people's thoughts, taste what others were tasting, hear what others could even out of earshot, and smell what others could smell, but Ansa had something no one had ever seen. She could see people's souls by checking a glimpse of their eyes. Everyone was perplexed by her ability.

Ansa grew up with everyone asking about their souls. When she turned 18 she left her town. She couldn't take the constant questioning about souls and eyes. She wanted to leave and never tell anyone about her ability. She left kissing her grandma on the cheek. The only person in her town with a close-to-pure soul. She left and hopped on a train going to Gonza. The capital city. She passed so many people with anger, sadness, happiness, lonely, longing, and a number of other feelings wrapped into a soul.

She got to her one-bedroom apartment on the 3rd floor of a 14-story rectangle-shaped sand-colored building. It was small, but ok for a starting home. She got a job at an office center on the other side of town. Her commute was about a 15-minute drive or a 34-minute walk. Her first couple weeks were extremely awkward, but she soon got into a routine and comfortable. One day Ansa's coworker suggested a small coffee shop on her commute to work. Ansa decided she would give it a try.

She awoke, got dressed, and went to the coffee shop. When she walked in the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled her nose. Two high tables lined the small window by the door. It was colored blue with a menu board to the right of the door. A buff guy with brown swoopy hair falling in his eyes. When Ansa caught a glimpse of his eyes she didn't see anything. She was taken aback by this. She had never encountered something like his soul. She took a few minutes gathering her confusion and nerves.

He was serving someone when she caught another glimpse of his eyes. Still nothing. She looked around at anybody who happened to glance at her to ensure she didn't lose her ability. She caught a glance at a young child on the far wall in the children's play area. She was a red-headed kid with a love for horses. She loves her mom and has pure intentions. Ansa knew her ability wasn't gone, but if it wasn't gone why couldn't she see the barista's soul? It was her turn to order, but she was a little shaken up.

" Hello, What can I get you?" Ansa stared him in the eyes. Still nothing. She stuttered through a sentence.

" H-Hello, C-can I-I get a ummm medium c-caramel macchiato t-to go?" He smiles a smile that could swoon anyone.

" Yes, of course, Name for this?" Ansa looked at his name tag, Damasas.

" Ansa." He wrote on the cup and she fumbled through her wallet for her money.

" It comes out to $ 7.32." Ansa handed him the money still searching his eyes. She moved to the side while he made her coffee. This didn't make any sense to her. He handed it to her and she smiled. She went to work. It kept eating at her, driving her absolutely crazy she had to get to know Damasas better.

So, every morning she would go to the coffee shop and order a caramel macchiato with an extra shot of expresso. Damasas recommended adding some apple syrup which became Ansa's favorite drink. She went to the small coffee shop every day for 3 months before Ansa and Damasas started hanging out outside of the coffee shop. They grew extremely close. Ansa started to catch feelings for him.

" Damasas?"

" Yeah? Ansa paused. She wanted to ask him if he'd like to date her, but she was scared. His soul was still unreadable.

" W-would you like to go out with me like on a date?" Ansa glanced at his eyes. She could see something! It wasn't very long, but it was something. She got a feeling of nervousness and excitement. She had never seen this in his eyes.

" Yes!" She smiled. Damasas looked to his feet.

" Now that we are together I have something to tell you." Ansa looked at him worried.

" Go ahead." She said.

" Ansa, don't hate me, please. I have this thing where I can see people's souls anytime as long as I catch a glimpse of..." Ansa cut him off.

" EYES" Damasas was confused.

" How did you know that?"

" I have that too! I couldn't see your soul. When I saw you for the first time and didn't see anything I knew it was something different. I wanted to get to know you." Damasas smiled.

" Me too. I'm glad I can finally get this off my chest."

Several years later they end up married and with kids. They never told anyone about their ability. Ansa starts to see Damasas' soul brighten every time they are together and every time they have an anniversary or another kid. That's when it hits her. His soul was not there until now.