“OK, chef. The grease trap is fixed and emptied,” Ethan said. “And I just got an apron filled with oil stains.” “Did you get it on your uniform?” His chef asked. “Just a few stains but I can wash it tonight. What else needs to be done?” His chef looks back and inspects the kitchen and front of the house. “I think we’re pretty much done. Our guys are just organizing the shelves and almost done deep cleaning the ovens.” He sighed in relief. “Thank God,” he thought to himself. “We can tell them to call it a night. Some of them need to be back for Sunday brunch,” he suggested to the chef. He looked at the clock. It’s 11 pm. Chef nodded. He said out loud so the kitchen team could hear him. “Alright, crew. That’s it for tonight. Thanks for everything and I’ll see some of you guys tomorrow for Sunday brunch.” The cooks nodded. “Thanks, chef. Good night.” Chef turned to Ethan. “I need to do some admin work in my office. Can you mop the kitchen?” He nodded. “Sure thing. After that, I’ll be heading off too. I’ll be off for a couple of days so I’ll see you Tuesday.” “Yup. See you Tuesday Ethan. And Ethan, please take care of yourself.” He just stood there, like a scarecrow. Ethan sighed. “No promises Kevin,” he said jokingly. 

It was 11:30 pm and the kitchen was mopped. He grabbed his winter coat and quickly went into his car to get out of this Canadian winter weather. He started the car. The piece of shit Toyota barely started and it’s on its last legs. He quickly cleared the snow and ice from the car and went inside the car to warm up. He put on some music, trying to relax. But nearly every song he listens to reminds him of Esther. Kodaline, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Pearl Jam, Elton John. He turned off his music and put his stone, cold hands on his face. He exhaled really long because he thought that it would release all the mental pain. He then took a deep breath. He sat there in silence, thinking about his life choices. Whether it was the right thing to work in the food industry. If he did the right thing with Esther. If everything that he wanted was all worth it. He took a long sigh, put the vehicle to drive, and started driving home. 

Ethan and Esther’s home was a small basement home that they rented a few years back. Typically the lights were on this time because Esther always stays up and waits for Ethan to be home before going to bed. This time, the lights we’re off, the basement home is pitch black. Ethan parked his car on the side of the road and went to the house. He unlocked the door and turned on the lights. The living room and kitchen are clean, but Esther’s office room was picked clean. Their bedroom was half gone. She might have gotten all her stuff before she visited Ethan one last time. Ethan was surprised, but he felt like this day would come. He hung his jacket, unpacked his bag, and went to take a shower. After his shower, he went to the kitchen and made some coffee and toast. When he added water to his small, Italian coffee machine and turned on his stove. While he waited for the coffee to brew, he put 2 slices of bread in his toaster and toast them. During that time, he put his hands on the countertop, lowered his head, and closed his eyes. He still hears the voice of Esther in his head while the sound of the ovens roars at work. He feels the pain but he doesn’t cry because he’s used to it. Ethan just stands there. Slowly inhaling and exhaling, trying to numb the pain. All of a sudden he heard a loud beeping noise with a high-pitched scream. He looked up, calmly it was his toast and coffee. It’s done. Be spread his toast with some Nutella and poured his coffee. He needed to get some fresh air, so he grabbed his phone and jacket and headed outside.

Out on the backyard porch, there’s a small glass table and a wooden chair. It wasn’t covered with snow. The chair is slightly damped. But Ethan doesn’t mind. He ended up sitting down anyway and enjoying his late-night snack. He devoured the toast. The coffee is still a little too hot so he paced himself. While he slowly sips his coffee and looks up to the cold, winter sky, he overhears a small conversation between his tenant and his wife upstairs. “Happy anniversary Doris. I got something for you.” Shortly after Ethan hears something again. “Oh my God Brian! Is that..” “Those sapphire earrings you always wanted,” Brain said. “I was going to grab something for myself to celebrate my promotion to senior accountant at Deloitte. But I know you deserve this more than me.” Ethan’s hands were shaking. Doris shrieked with excitement. “Brian. You know you don’t have to give me anything. I’m just so proud of you of how far you’ve come.” “No, Doris. I’m proud of us for how we come. I love you, Doris. Here’s to another year.” Ethan is furious. He cleared the glass table with his cold arms, knocking and shattering the plate and mug on the backyard porch. He puts his cold hands on his face again, starting to cry.

Minutes later, his phone started to ring. He turned over and looked at his phone. It’s his boss. He picked up his phone but didn’t say a word. “Ethan,” Kevin asked. Ethan is trying to put himself together. “Yes, chef. How can I help you,” Ethan asked. “I need a favor from you kid. I completely forgot that this weekend my wife wants me to celebrate Valentine’s Day at the spa with her. Can you please take my shift tomorrow? I’ll trade you a shift another time.” Ethan took a long sigh, followed by a long silence. “Ethan. You there kiddo?” Kevin asked. Ethan replied disappointingly, “Yes chef. I can cover your shift.” “You sure?” Kevin asked again. “You seem like you don’t want to,” Ethan replied with a much happier tone. “Kevin. I’m good. You have fun. And say hi to Tiffany and the kids for me.” Kevin is relieved. “Thanks, chef. I’ll see you Tuesday.” Ethan hangs up the phone without saying goodbye to Kevin. He just continued looking up in the cold, dark sky. Thinking of the good days when he was together with Esther.