Awakening Horizons

She gazed intently at the poster hanging splendidly in front of her. Taking a pleasurable drag on her cigarette, she sipped her coffee, enriched with a good shot of brandy. This ritual marked her late afternoons after her shift in the Lounge café bar, aptly named for its cozy atmosphere, which truly made it one of the hottest spots in town. She had started working there after quitting her apprenticeship three years ago. She hadn’t planned to stay long, thinking it would be only a short time until something better came along, hopefully another apprenticeship that aligned with her interests. Her first attempt at becoming a hairdresser failed. However, over time, while working at the café, she settled in well and got along perfectly with her colleagues. One benefit of her job was flexibility; if situations demanded it, she could switch shifts at the last minute. Fortunately, that didn’t happen often. She typically had the day shift from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM.

After her shift, she performed this ritual, which lasted just half an hour but was sacred to her. It was a moment for herself. Although her job wasn’t too stressful, she needed this time to prepare for what awaited her at home. Now she sat, surrounded by a poster depicting the paradisiacal Mauritius: a turquoise-blue sea, a pristine white sandy beach, lush greenery, and colorful plants.

Andrea let out a deep sigh, wishing she could escape for just a few days, letting the sun warm her belly while she thought of nothing and no one. Not thinking about the three cappuccinos needed for table three, the coffee bean order she was solely responsible for, and the constant demands of caring for her mother and Clara, to ensure nothing got out of hand. A few days away would be bliss. Maybe even a week?

Andrea glanced at her watch; she only had fifteen minutes left. She lit another cigarette, the last one she would allow herself for today, since her mother didn’t want her smoking in the apartment. With her eyes closed, she took another sip of coffee, savoring the combined flavors of coffee beans, brandy, and nicotine on her palate. It was a moment of pure enjoyment. Then she opened her eyes again and froze in astonishment.

“What are you doing here? Are you off work already?”

“You forgot your smartphone under the counter, and since I know you like to linger here in front of the travel agency and the poster for a while, I thought I’d bring it to you,” Leo said, handing her the smartphone with a warm smile. He bounced on his toes, watching her with bright eyes.

Andrea thanked him, glanced at the screen, noticed two missed calls from her mother highlighted, put it in her bag, and squinted at Leo.

“How did you know I was here?”

“I’ve seen you sitting here some afternoons after your shifts when I took out the trash. See, the trash cans are over there, and from there, you can see this bench you’re sitting on. Not that you think I was following you,” he added.

Andrea nodded silently, indicating she accepted the apology.

“You seem fascinated by that paradise vacation spot.” Leo gestured with his thumb at the poster without turning around.

“Well, as it looks, it will only remain a dream destination for me,” Andrea replied bitterly.

“Why don’t you go on a vacation? You should have accrued enough time off. You’ve been working nonstop for over six months. I’m sure the boss would approve if you asked for a week or two off. Yes, you make the best coffee, but I’m certain the customers will survive for such a short time without your handcrafted coffee.”

“The problem isn’t whether the boss can find a good substitute for me or whether I’m entitled to vacation time in general.”

“Oh, really? So, what’s the issue? Maybe I can help you find a solution.” Andrea frowned and grew uncomfortable; the conversation was becoming too personal, and she didn’t really want to share much about herself, especially with Leo, whom she didn’t know very well. He had only started working at the café about a month and a half ago. Andrea typically took her time warming up to new people; this wasn’t a behavior she developed overnight.  She wasn’t hostile or suspicious toward strangers, just cautious. This mindset had been instilled in her by her mother. Elisabeth was always highly emotional and cautious. Her younger sister, Clara, was luckier; she managed to escape this lonely way of life because their mother was already too exhausted to focus on raising the youngest child. Meanwhile, Andrea, the eldest, was expected to take on responsibility for helping with the family, and Clara was, as her mother said, the perfect opportunity for Andrea to practice caregiving. Their father worked as a pharmaceutical representative and was mostly absent, and besides that, he rarely had a say in the family’s matters. When he suddenly passed away, it shocked the entire family, especially Elisabeth, and threw her off balance. At the time, Andrea was 18, and Clara was only 12. The sisters witnessed their mother falling apart, struggling to manage her job. Elisabeth began oversleeping on her shifts; whether they were early or late, it didn’t matter; she slept at any opportunity. To help, Andrea took it upon herself to wake her mother so that her mother could fulfill her duties as a train attendant.

Clara, on the other hand, lived in her own world with her own rules. Despite the series of tragic events, she didn’t take the situation too seriously. Even as a child, she approached life with a playful attitude and was very open to the world. Sometimes, her openness caused her problems, especially later at school. Her grades dropped; she often disappeared from the schoolyard during breaks with classmates, and she was even caught smoking.

One day, Clara’s teacher called for a parent-teacher meeting; Elisabeth had neither the time nor the desire to attend, so Andrea stepped in. When Mr. Schmidt met her instead of their mother, he wasn’t pleased but somehow understood the circumstances that it was difficult for the family to move on after their father’s death.

After the meeting with Mr. Schmidt, Andrea confronted Clara about her smoking; Clara cheekily replied, “But you smoke too!”

Andrea countered, “You’re only 15, and I’m of age.”

Clara shot back, “What difference does that make? It’s only three years, and I’m sure you started before that, too.”

After this intense argument, Andrea was left disheartened by the entire state of her life.

That’s how her life looked: her mother constantly slept, struggled to work, and showed little interest in anything beyond that. Her teenage sister lived carefree, relishing the moments without any desire to take responsibility for her actions. As a result, Andrea had to manage the household and family.

But could she find the courage to confess to Leo and explain that this was the crucial reason she didn’t risk being away from home, even for just two days? Oh, how she desired to share her burdens and finally get everything off her chest.

While Andrea was deeply lost in her troubling thoughts, kneading her coffee cup with one hand, Leo watched her with great interest. He sensed her inner turmoil and hoped for a revelation from her side. Andrea took the last drag from her cigarette and extinguished it by throwing the stub into the empty cup. She stared at Leo seriously; he sensed she was about to leave. He had to act quickly.

“Isn’t it the family that makes our lives difficult?” he burst out. Andrea froze, her eyes widening in surprise.

“How could you say something like that? What do you mean?”

“Not that I was eavesdropping or anything. I just happened to be next to you while I was putting the milk in the fridge. You were telling Katrin about your sister, how she started smoking, wasn’t focused in school, didn’t learn anything, and that’s why you had to go to the parent-teacher meeting, again.” Andrea continued to stare at him, now with furrowed brows. Leo feared an outburst and felt the need to justify himself further.

“Honestly, I didn’t mean to listen. But you were at the coffee machine making coffee and talking to Katrin, and at the same time had to put away the milk cartons, and the fridge is right next to the coffee machine.”

“I have to go,” Andrea mumbled, grabbed her bag, and stood up.

“Wait, please,” Leo pleaded. “I mean well. Sometimes it’s better to let everything out than to bottle it up. Maybe I can help you?”

“How do you want to help me? Do you want to go to the parent-teacher meeting in instead of me in the future? It shouldn’t even be my responsibility; it should be my mother’s.  But she’s not interested in anything or anyone, not even herself. I’m 21 years old, and for the past three years, since my father passed away, I’ve had to take care of everything: mother, little sister, work, and paperwork. No one ever asks how I’m doing or if I need a break.”

“That’s what I’m saying, I’m here and happy to listen to you,” Leo offered.

Andrea looked at him suspiciously. “Why? Why are you doing this?”

“What do you mean? Why am I doing this? I enjoy helping people. Isn’t it wonderful to spread a little compassion and joy through sincere and well-meaning advice and support? I do it selflessly, without expecting anything in return.”

“Well, it would be great if more people thought that way. The world would definitely be a better place.”

“I believe that too. That’s why I’m sharing this with you in good faith: Our family is very important to us. It’s the smallest society we’re born into and will always be part of. However, it’s not right to sacrifice ourselves completely. No matter how difficult the situation is, you should never stop setting personal goals and dreams or pursuing and fulfilling them. You need to keep developing as a person and as a personality.”

“Are you saying I don’t have a personality?”

“Of course not. On the contrary, I think you’re a wonderful person. Nowadays, it’s rare to meet someone who has such a strong sense of responsibility and doesn’t put themselves first. However, there are times when you should do just the opposite: focus on yourself and pursue what your soul longs for. If this dream trip to Mauritius is too expensive, there are other vacation destinations that are more affordable. How about Paris, Barcelona, or Rome? Even a short trip could make you feel like a different person, renewed. Plus, it would be a great opportunity to see how your mother and sister react in your absence. Sometimes you need to push people into deep water so they can awaken and regain their strength. Think it over.” Instantly, the scene came back to him: saying goodbye to his parents, only six months after his sister’s death. He didn’t want them left alone after she lost her years-long battle with cancer. They and he were still grief-stricken, but he had to return to work, to the army. Leo glanced at his watch.

“I have to go now. My shift has already started. If I don’t hurry, I’ll lose my job.” And off he went.

Andrea barely managed to say goodbye before she was left alone with her thoughts. The ringing of her smartphone pulled her out of her trance. “I’m already on my way, Mother,” she answered and set off, feeling a refreshing sense of courage and hope. She never expected that a stranger could radiate such comforting energy.

Back home, without saying hello, she went directly to her room and looked for holiday deals. Later, when the three of them had gathered at the dinner table, silence lay over the table; everyone was absorbed in their food and their inner worlds. In a flash, Andrea broke the silence to announce her decision: “If everything goes well and my boss agrees, I will fly to Barcelona for five days next Monday.”

Elisabeth paused, her fork full of spaghetti, and after a moment she brought the bite to her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. Once she swallowed, she replied, “That’s a surprise. I didn’t know you liked Barcelona so much. But that’s okay. I think you’ve earned a break. The last few years haven’t been easy for you.”
“And what about me? I want to go on vacation too,” Clara exclaimed.

"You need to improve your grades first. Don’t think I’m unaware of what’s going on at school.” Clara started to fidget in her chair.

Elisabeth continued: “From now on, you’ll come straight home after school and study until your grades improve. I’ll also talk to your class teacher, Mr. Schmidt, to get more detailed information about your progress in school.” Elisabeth cautioned.

Clara looked offended and turned her attention back to her plate.

“If you need money for your vacation, let me know,” Elisabeth said to Andrea.

“Thank you, Mother, but I’ve saved up quite a bit; that should be enough for me.”

The next day, Andrea submitted her vacation request. Even though it was on the drop of a hat, the boss granted it and wondered how she hadn’t asked for time off in such a long time.

After her shift, Andrea felt happy and immediately looked for Leo, but was told he had quit that morning due to a family emergency. This news made Andrea reflect. She wished she could thank him because, without his encouragement and support, she would never have taken this step. He had come into her life like a guardian angel, pulling her out of her dark world and awakening her to the possibility of exploring wider horizons.

©2026, Vasiliki Papadopoulou