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Heading home didn't seem like a great idea especially looking at how tired I was and having a project deadline the next morning.

I needed the rest, but I knew once I stepped into my apartment then I could forget about finishing the project. So going directly to the apartment was a definite no, if I wanted to still have a job the next morning.

My options of safe space were limited, but at least I had a few options with the bustle of the cities night life. I instead headed towards my friends restaurant just a block away. The restaurant would be open until past midnight and I needed a busy atmosphere that would distract me enough from sleep to complete my work.

Not wanting to take my usual route, I decided to take a few side streets there and was just a few buildings away when I spotted what looked like a cafe . Ordinarily I would've dismissed it except for the blazing sign which read EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS with a sign of man holding what looked like a wicked cup of coffee.

I immediately remembered my friend mentioning a growing weird night cafe that had just opened up close to his restaurant a few weeks back. EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS didn't sound remotely like the name of a cafe but if that was what they were offering, I definitely needed all the distraction I could get from sleep.

Apparently it only opened during the night and then closed as soon as it was almost daybreak, it was an all night service. Weird didn't begin to cover the vibe I was getting from this place.

I found a corner to sit and ordered a cup of coffee, while seating and waiting I was informed that I would soon be joined by my table partner.
I was still wondering what was meant when two cups of coffee arrived and in tow was an old man who looked to be in his seventies.

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That was when I noticed the seating arrangements, it seemed everyone here were in some sort of deep conversation with the people seated at their table. I signalled the waiter and asked why I had a seating partner.

This is a place where you can just share or simply listen, it's up to you whichever path you want he winked and walked away.

You know what this is about? I asked

From your surprise, it looks to me like it's your first time here he replied

Yes you're right. I just stopped by to get some work done and get a cup of coffee, I wasn't expecting any of this weird stuff

I guess you didn't read the sign, it says exceeding expectations he replied giving me a smile

It didn't look like I would be able to get any work done here, but there was something relaxing about his whole demeanor so I decided to go with the flow.

My new seating partner introduced himself as Mark. Apparently this was a night cafe where you meet different people and just shared your stories with them while they simply offered you a listening ear. It sounded very much like therapy over coffee to me.

Mark was a war veteran suffering from PTSD and somehow sharing his experiences with others and listening to their stories was a way for him to relax and let go of the trauma.
It was hard, but it seemed talking helped.

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I told him about how I'd struggled to see myself through school as an orphan. I had very few friends, which was why I immersed myself fully with work and why I was taking extra work home when there were others that could've done it.

Everyone at the office knew I was a workaholic, so they sometimes took it for granted and left me with extra work. Talking with Mark made me realize how much resentment I'd been keeping in even though I showed up at work everyday.

We talked for awhile and as we both shared and listened, I realized so much weight had been lifted.
I signalled the waiter for the bill and was surprised when Mark told me not to bother.

It's on the house he said

What do you mean by that? I asked

Who do you think came up with the idea of a night cafe for emotional healing he replied and smiled as he stood up to take his leave.

It seemed I'd just had coffee with the owner without knowing it and as I walked out with my laptop. I looked at the sign once again and smiled, they'd definitely exceeded my expectations.

Going back to my apartment to complete my work didn't seem like a bad idea anymore.