Our Paragraph Portfolio Author's Circle Paragraph Portfolio | Page 12

“Coffee” 

The smell, heavy and delicious makes its way into my cocooned dreams, cushioned by a warm 
duvet. Yawning I awake. It’s there, ever present tempting me. I dress quickly, the air frigid and trying 
to find its way into my bones. It’s a race against the bone chilling cold. I look around the room. Mess, 
clothes, books, too many books, float around the room. There is no time. It’s calling my name. Phone. 
Headphones. Water bottle. Then I’m down the stairs and in the kitchen. It’s there, the smell, the pot. 
Waiting, hissing slightly, almost in anticipation. A mug is in my hand, then the pot and the beautiful 
smell has been released with the liquid. Hot and steaming it pours into my cup. The mug is suddenly 
warm in my hands. I regret having to put it down to get the soymilk. The small blast of cold, then it’s 
in my mug. Quickly the carton goes back into the fridge. I walk carefully to the table. I sit. I hold the 
mug in my cold hand. The rich smell rising with the steam. I raise the mug to my lips. It washes down 
my throat, hot, heady, strong. I close my eyes and savour it. The haze I’ve been living in slowly lifts.   

-Malkah Schack