08/03/2026
“…your sweets feels like less a snack.” 🫠
(Long post ahead)
⭐️For context: at our cafe, I have a collection of old books. Some I’ve read and others I’m still getting to, so many of them are filled with scribbles, notes, and annotations. These books have been with me since high school and college. If you know me well, you know how much they mean to me, I even created a website just to keep my short prose and poetry in one place. I guess, much like the teenager in this story, words and books are my safe haven and my best friend.
Today, March 8th, on a typical Sunday afternoon at the cafe, this teen and her cousin came into the shop holding a piece of paper. At first, I thought they were just coming in for their usual order; a sugar cone ice cream and a Biscoff cookie, but I was wrong.
“Ate, may ibibigay lang po kami,” she said, handing me two pieces of paper with a paragraph-long message.
Initially, I was confused. I thought they might be asking for help with a school assignment or needed a cafe owner’s perspective for a project. To my surprise, it was for me; just for me. It was a letter I never expected. I read it as fast as I could while they were still there, and as I read silently, I felt my throat tighten and my eyes well up. I tried to hold it back because I didn’t want to seem too “soft,” but it was so moving. I encouraged her to post her work online or start a website of her own, as an outlet for her memories.
You never know who might need to read your words.
To the two of you: this may be a long post, but I am truly grateful for you and your cousins. I had no idea our simple cafe had such a huge impact on you! As I said earlier, keep that passion burning! ❤️🔥 Keep writing and let your imagination run wild. Don’t forget to share it with the world; someone out there might need to hear what you have to say.
PS: I’ve kept her name private and asked for her permission before posting this.
PPS: Thank you so much for considering our small nook your safe haven! 🩷
Warmest gratitude and love,
Yona 💝
