I, a lowly Quarter
Her, a goddess Penny
I, a girl afflicted with spirit-sense
Her, from a world looking down upon mine
We met by chance
A product of excitement and thirst
She brought me an iced tea
And sat across from me
The other seats were full
The cafe was new
The timing was perfect
The iced tea was... interesting
She asked me my name
I replied, "I'm just a Quarter
She didn't care
She said, "Well, I'm just a Penny
Her sweet expression
The sweet iced tea
Melted my bitter coffee heart
Made broken from fear
I had come because ghosts don't like crowds
They don't like people
They don't like me
She didn't know
She didn't need to
I was just alone
And thirsty
And afraid
She asked what I like to do
I said "I like video games
She didn't laugh or leave
She said "I do too!
We talked for what seemed like hours
It was starting to get dark
I told her I needed to go
In the dark, the ghosts get... aggressive
She asked me if I wanted to meet again
Of course I said yes
She seemed... sort of magical
Alchemical
I ran, pulling my backpack straps
The ghosts all stared
But for the first time, I didn't really care
I just smiled
The next day I went back
She was there waiting
I sat down and ordered a coffee
She asked, "How are you feeling?
I wanted to say scared
I wanted to say in love
I wanted to say confused
But I said, "Happy to be here
We talked for hours more
Laughing about funny memes
Discussing foods
Borderline flirting
She asked me, "So why did you leave so suddenly?
I got nervous
Nobody likes spirit-sensors
Nobody
I hesitated
She noticed
I said, "Well, I—
She put her hand on my shoulder
"Don't worry, I know why.
You don't have to be ashamed.
Your fearful manner
Your urgency
"I don't hate you.
She stood up, taking me with her
And hugged me
She... Hugged me
I, a lowly Quarter
Her, a goddess Penny
I, a girl afflicted with spirit-sense
Her, abandoning her world above mine
I couldn't help it
I cried
I
I just cried into her shoulder
She walked me home
It was dark
The ghosts clawed at me
But her presence cleared away the pain
She bandaged my wounds
She told me I should sleep
She walked out the door
Wait, not yet—!
I stopped her
Beneath my tree, the amber leaves twirling around us
The tree I was born under
The tree many were hung in
I asked her to stay
We sat on the grass
I was still crying a little
I asked her why
Why
She told me many things
About her manipulative father
About her mother, who despised those beneath them
But most of all, she said
"I don't care who you are.
I don't care who I am.
I knew you needed someone,
And I needed someone.
"You might be a Quarter
And I might be Penny
But when I saw you
I
saw
you.
I couldn't believe it
Nobody would
It was surreal
Impossible
But not anymore
Now, we don't meet at the cafe
We meet in the living room
With a coffee and an iced tea
She tells her friends, "She's perfect for me
I tell myself, "She's perfect for me
We play video games
We fight ghosts
We watch fireworks
We count the stars
We cuddle at the fireplace
We kissed, for the first time, at the cafe
I, a lowly Quarter
Her, a goddess Penny
Us, together
We, an unthinkable couple
An unstoppable gaming team
A couple of caffeine junkies
A pair of memelords
A dancing duet of fates
A
Quarter and Penny