Rony, Silviya, and Kevin took their seats at a corner table of the Warm Land Cafe and waited to catch Cixi at work, or cleaning.
Silviya wanted to take a video of Cixi cleaning the floor.
She had decided, before she walked into the cafe that afternoon, that she would drop coffee on the floor and watch Cixi pick up a mop. Her stomach was doing slow, uneven flips as she imagined how Cixi would react at the sight of the three of them at the table. The wide eyes. The trembling hands. The small, private moment of recognition that would arrive in Cixi's chest before her brain caught up. The anticipation made Silviya smile against the rim of her cup.
The server came. She took their order. She left.
The three of them watched the floor for Cixi. Two hours had passed, and there was no sign of her.
