Coffee Without Sugar

The story takes place in a small cafe in a modern setting before closing time in the evening. The space is warm, peaceful and familiar. It is a delicate emotional drama, focusing on the hidden unease and unspoken emotions in long-term relationships.

The protagonist is a middle-aged coffee shop owner who has been running this small store for many years. Another character is his long-term partner, who suddenly visits when the store is closing. What seemed like a casual visit, however, was triggered by a simple sentence - "You always add sugar to my coffee" - to stir up the long-suppressed emotional rift between the two.

Behind this insignificant detail lies a deeper emotional truth: the shop owner has gradually neglected to understand his partner in the process of inertia and responsibility. The partner feels neglected, not listened to, and not truly remembered.

At the most tense moment of the conversation, the shopkeeper turned around and accidentally saw an old doll on the shelf - an object that his partner had often placed beside the counter. It has long been covered in dust and forgotten in the corner. This tiny trigger evokes a series of memories: the laughter of the past, his self-awareness, and the "never sugar-adding" him. The person who was once cherished and the details that were remembered are now being overlooked by oneself with one's own hands.

Facing these memories, the shopkeeper felt a surge of guilt and warmth. He didn't say much. Instead, after apologizing to his partner, he silently made a new cup of sugar-free coffee and carefully placed it in front of her. The partner took it, not saying much, but the silence at that moment already represented understanding and forgiveness.

The story came to an end as their relationship eased, and they quietly reconciled in the store.