4/26/26

T, Mi Amor,

The last time I wrote to you was roughly 2 months ago. Actually just 2 days shy of two months. I’m not sure if you realize this, but I couldn’t write for the longest time before you came along. When I started, the writing came from pain. I had to let the pain I felt take shape. So whenever I bled, I wrote. Then after a certain point in time, I stopped bleeding and with that the words too. Then came the bouts of pensive thoughts and loneliness and existential crisis. And when the vanity of all that passed, there was just silence. It wasn’t that there was a void, it was like life had just become muted.

When you came along, it felt like the entire world just came alive. You know… sun shining, birds chirping. It just became so vibrant. It was warm and whole again. Like the inside of a bakery. Which is a perfect segue for what I write to you today. Another attempt at positive rewiring.

I don’t ever want to stop writing.

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It’s 6:03PM on a Sunday. The commercial hustle and bustle on 80ft Road is going to start. I never really understood it. How can people go out for anything on a Sunday evening? I mean the next week literally starts the next morning. I’d be just focussed on winding down to the disruption in the routine from the weekend. But hey, to each their own.

I’m seated in the corner. It was quiet for the past two hours but I know the crowd is going to pickup soon for the next 3 hours. I’m hammering away at my keyboard, waiting until the time you beckon to me.

That’s when I hear the little bell ding as the door opens. She walked in followed closely behind by who I can only presume was her boyfriend. I mean who else loves holding hands like that?

They must have both been in their mid twenties, kind of reminds me of the time when I first saw you. The cute little 25 year old that you were. I mean, it’s been like a decade and you still haven’t aged a day. I on the other hand have got the wrinkles growing deeper and deeper. The ratio of whites to black in my hair has inverted. I guess there’s no wonder that you call this “thathappa” a pedo still. LOL. But hey, even you cant deny that I have the libido and cardio strength of a 21 year old.

I knew when I saw them both that they were doctors. Both in teal scrubs. Reminded me of how it was when I used to come pick you up for those car lunches from MSMC. They both had the same look. Exhaustion which followed a tiring day, but they both had a certain warmth to them. The love between them was pretty strong. It was just then that you came out of the kitchen and near the till. You were resplendent. The baby pink top and jeans barely hidden away by the bright yellow apron with the little pink cupcake dancing on it.

You said – hey, what can I get you folks?

Her – Can we get 4 of the German chocolate cupcakes and three slices of the Vanilla buttercream cake?

You – Coming right up, but if you buy one more cupcake, then the 6th one’s free.

She looked at him. He gave a small shrug as if to say – what the hell, let’s do it.

Her – Sure, that works!

You – Why don’t you all have a seat while I it up?

The two of them make their way to the couch and flop down. They are talking to each other in hushed voices. She asks him something and he says something in return and smiles. She gives him a knowing smug look.

My eyes dart over to you. You’ve packed the smaller pink box with the half dozen cupcakes. The cake slices go into the other bigger baby blue box. You tape it up and put it in the giant paper bag and ring up the bill.

You – Excuse me. Hi! Your order is ready!

They both jump out of their seats and make their way over to you.

Her – Thank yo so much. How much is it.

You – 1900 total.

She taps her phone to the POS machine and the tiny beep indicates we’ve received the payment.

You hand over the bag with a smile.

He takes the bag in his hand and they two of them make their way to the exit. I look back down at my screen, my mind unconsciously anticipating the exit bell. But it never comes. I hear hushed conversation which ends with him saying – So ask…

I look back up and see her walking back to the till. You’re still there.

You – Is everything ok?

Her – oh yea yea everything is fine. I just had a question.

You smile. You know what she’s going to ask.

You – sure, what’s up?

Her – So… why is it called Dr T’s Cupcakes?

You look at me with a knowing smile.

I get up off my seat and come up to the counter and peel off a note from my pocket and stuff it into the jar.

You – Whoo hoo!

She looks questioningly at both of us.

Her – Sorry did I miss something?

I traipse back to my seat in the corner.

You – He owes me a 1000 bucks every time someone asks me that question.

You turn the glass jar to face her. It has a little white label which has scrawled onto it – Dr T Question Jar.

Her – Ummm. Ok?

She still hasn’t gotten the answer to what she was after.

You – So, I’m Dr T and I own the store. When we started all we made was cupcakes. So we’d named it Dr T’s Cupcakes. But now we sell a bit of everything.

Her – So… you’re a doctor?

You – Yes

Her – Who owns a bakery?

You – Yes

Her – How does that happen?

You – Why not?

Her – I mean you’re a doctor. How do you go from being a doctor to a baker. It makes no sense.

You – A wise man once told me life only makes sense backwards, but you can only live it forward.

Her with a confused expression – What?!

You – There was a time. I had a plan. For what life would look like. I knew precisely where I thought I wanted to go. I had every second and every step and every decision planned out.

Her – So what happened?

You – I met someone who showed me that it was okay for me to follow my heart.

You look over at me. I’m already looking at you and smiling. Your face breaks into that smile. The one I have seen break out on your face every time you saw me waiting to pick you up.

Her – So just like that? You decided to change tracks?

You – I mean it wasn’t easy. I wanted to follow my heart, but the world didn’t really make it easy for me.

Her – Then what did?

You – Well… Him. He was there behind me for any decision I made. Even if it didn’t make sense or was logical at the time.

She looked over at me. And then at him.

He looked at me and said – No doubt I’m going to hear about this tonight.

I smiled. You laughed, and so did she.

Her – Well, thank you. It’s really something so uniquely inspirational.

You say – Follow your heart.

They both smile and exit.

The little ting from the bell let’s me know they’ve left.

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