Coffee Creatures.

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"It was very strange to see them walking the streets for the first time. These shadowy creatures that seemed to vanish with every step they took appeared overnight. At first many tried to exterminate them, but it was impossible, in the face of blows, shots and cuts they simply regenerated. The only option was to accept them, let them walk among us or just pretend they weren't there."

"Was that how we started living among shadows mom?"

"That's right love, you were very little when it all started. You grew up surrounded by these creatures, maybe that's why it seems normal to you."

"And for you it's not normal mommy?"

"You can't imagine how terrifying it was to see them appear. For a while we only felt fear. The bad days I had to go through I will never forgive them, I will hate those creatures forever."

Camila was talking to her mother and was a little afraid of the hatred her mother carried inside. For Camila had secretly befriended one of the wandering shadows and now she could not find a way to explain to her mother how important that bond had become.

But Camila's shadow was not like any other, unlike the others, this one talked, thought and felt. Talking to her was much more interesting than talking to her friends at school. She always had a story to tell and Camila laughed like never before when she was by her side.

The place of their meetings was a small cave at the edge of the city park. Camila found her there one afternoon when she was exploring, since then they became friends and I call her Ruth, even though the shadows had neither male nor female gender.

During those days a discovery surprised the city dwellers. Scientists came to the conclusion that the shadows were made of coffee. They had studied some hypotheses but some important findings allowed them to conclude that a radioactive accident near some coffee plantations had given origin to such strange creatures.

When Camila heard the news on the radio she was impressed, now she was even more curious about Ruth. That afternoon after school she ran to the cave and found her ghostly friend. Ruth had no face, yet Camila knew she smiled when she saw her coming. The sandy brown surface covering her head contracted and made colorful movements between different shades of brown and gold.

Camila told Ruth the coffee theory, and they thought about it for a while. Ruth was also impatient to know where she came from, what had brought her to this world. The friends got closer and closer and Camila tasted Ruth's skin, at first she was afraid, but when she felt the taste of coffee run through her mouth she couldn't stop.

Ruth tasted like coffee, but she also had an incomparable sweetness. Camila savored Ruth with her whole body, her heart was beating fast and it seemed to her that Ruth was beating with her, even though she didn't have a heart. They spent the whole night there, a young girl and a shade of coffee wrapped in a love unknown to both of them and to the world.

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The next day Camila ran home, she knew her mother would be worried. On the way she realized that the city was in chaos, radical groups were demanding that the shadows should leave the streets. Other pacifist groups argued that they were respectable life forms and could not be exterminated.

Violence had taken over the city, some were using the shadows to brew coffee, they realized that it was possible to infuse their bodies. But in this process they also realized that the coffee creatures were screaming in pain as they took their lives.

The groups that defended the shadows called them murderers, the security forces did not know what to do seemed wrong, but there was no law that protected the coffee creatures, they were not even considered people. Defense groups demanded quick action from their legislators.

In the midst of all this madness, Camila came home and her mother was mad with nerves. Camila was terrified by everything that was happening, she had to open her heart and tell her mother about Ruth. The mother was terrified, her daughter was in love with a brown creature, she wanted to feel anger but she saw Camila's eyes, her little daughter was scared and it was her duty to protect her. The mother put aside her prejudices, took the car and went in search of Ruth. They sneaked her to the house where they would keep her safe.

When Ruth and her mother arrived home, they stood face to face. The house was scented with coffee and they all felt fear, the mother had the same impression that Camila had with Ruth, even though they had no face, it seemed to her that they were looking at each other. And that encounter was so deep and honest that they simply sat down to talk and share stories while the city burned outside.

They agreed that Ruth would be there as long as necessary, until the city was a safe place for the coffee creatures. Camila and Ruth continued to strengthen their bond and Camila's mother was happy with this. Ruth had brought more unity and harmony to their home, now she and Camila talked more and without fear.

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Of course, historically a cup of coffee had always been a good excuse to sit down and chat with loved ones. Now these new creatures that were picking up on the charms of coffee and people could teach us how to be better at conversing, listening and understanding others. Something very good would come out of all this.