A solitary dinner sat in the corner gazing at his coffee and then into the cold of the dawn. A thin wisp of misty cloud lay low on the horizon. He lifted his cup and swallowed the remaining dregs threw a few dollars on the table and left. As his car disappeared into the the distance the waitress cleared the table her eyes watching the car and customer. Only another five hours of the shift to go. "Hope business picks up" she thought. Her thoughts and hopes were raised when the flash of the early sun on crome. Another car perhaps it will pull in. It did.
He was tall his lean frame covered by a heavy leather coat bent awkwardly to one side. He lurched inside. Looking around and seeing only the waitress the tense expression on his face eased slightly.
"Coffee. Black." he called as he slumped heavily into a booth with a gasp.
The waitress was at the table pouring a thick black nectar into the cup. As she went to leave he grabbed her hand tightly. He stared into her eyes "Sit down " he commanded. A wave of fear hit her she tried to release her hand from his grip. No luck. He held it "SIT DOWN" he repeated putting a small badly creased photo on the table and pointing with his other hand.
She looked with surprise, no shock at the photo and sat down. The photo was her some twenty years ago. A crumpled envelope came next "Read this" he said "its for you."
She recognised the hand writng from the past and smiled as the grip on her hand relaxed. As she read her tears fell.
"I have carried that with me for twenty years. He gave it to me on his death bed in Vietnam. He saved my life and died as a result. I promised to take it to you but... well things didnt work out for me. I have been on the run from the law. But this is the only thing thats kept me sane. I knew I had to bring it tonight. I hoped you were here.
He gasped again clutching at his side.He opened the dirty coat to reveal a gapping bullet wound and blood soaked clothing. Ive driven through three states to get here, cops on my trail the whole way. There is this as well and he put a tiny gold ring with a simple stone on the table then slumped to one side breathing no more.