The Filmmaker

At a coffee shop outside St. Luke's Hospital, Ranimel sinks into a single-seater sofa. He leans his head at the back and stares above the ceiling. He doesn't care about the baristas going around and the customers pursing lips and shaking heads over what they think they see is indecorum. The truth is, Ranimel is exhausted. He works at night and, on days, he tends to his sick father, Chuck, confined in the hospital.

The coaster pager on the table whirrs. Ranimel comes to his senses. With heaviness, he reaches for the coaster pager, rises to his feet, and drags himself over to the dispatch counter. He gives the coaster pager to the barista in exchange for the cappuccino in a medium paper cup.

"Sugar?" asks the barista.

"Two sachets," says Ranimel.

The barista gives him the sugar and Ranimel heads back to his table.