It is likely no coincidence that Black Sabbath is playing on the sound system. An ironic retro-choice to the hipster that selected it. But to me, it’s an an old friend. I am in line, waiting to order the black liquid that will course through me and make me real to this world. For now, I am invisible. He is standing in front of me: Charcoal skinny jeans, sandy-gray dessert boots, watch on the left wrist, sterling crafted bracelet on the right. He’s holding a motorcycle helmet in one hand. It has brown leather gloves stuffed inside of it. The gloves have red lining. His fingernails are trim but not too metro. No cuticle issues. His hair is long-ish but does not pass his shoulders. It is sufficiently layered so as to avoid any hippie hair cross-over. He is Gen-X. Not hipster. Aside from his age, this is obvious because otherwise his boots would have been black as would his gloves. Also, his beard is mere scratch stubble vs. full on Civil War. His skin is lightly freckled, and his eyes are hazel. All of this is compelling, of course. Yet, most interesting is perhaps his navy blue henley shirt rolled up slightly over his elbow. This is what lures me down the rabbit hole: A scab on his elbow. The henley is rolled just to it, so that it is clearly rubbing the scab. I guesstimate its about two to three weeks old. Does it not itch? How did he get it? He moves his arm again and again, each time taunting me without mercy. I want to wrestle him to the ground... not to make out with him, although he is quite attractive. I want to touch the scab. I want to pick the scab. I must pick the scab… at least touch it, maybe adjust the sleeve of his henley so it doesn’t rub. hmmm… This is the perilous zone where so much of life occurs. Black Sabbath shifts from War Pigs to Paranoid. He orders migas and a cortado, and sits outside. I order a black drip and sit inside. The line moves, the songs change, adding structure and guardrails to guide our primal urges. I will not pick at a stranger’s scab at the coffeeshop after all. …. Go toward the light ya’ll….