Mind Games

Jenna sits alone at a small wooden table in a bustling café, her eyes slightly glazed over as she casually listens to the thoughts of people around her—a mundane barrage of grocery lists, familial arguments, and self-praise. Sunlight streams in from the café window, casting a warm glow over her thoughtful expression. The camera is positioned at an over-the-shoulder angle, showing her perspective looking out over the crowd.

Every thought read like a page out of a diary—John's grocery list, Mary's squabble with her mom, Peter's ego-booster.

Jenna's eyes widen, and she winces slightly, startled by an intrusive, unfamiliar thought. The camera zooms in on her face to capture the moment of realization that something is radically different. The background noise of the café fades, isolating her in this shocking moment. Her grip on the coffee cup tightens.

Then, it struck like a gong. 'Hello, Jenna.'

Jenna's gaze darts around the room, scanning the faces of the patrons in an attempt to locate the source of the thought. The camera follows her eyes sweeping the scene, stopping briefly on varying individuals—each appearing mundane and preoccupied. In the soft glow of the café, an almost eerie tension builds.

'Stop searching. It's me, your latte.'

Jenna's eyes finally lock onto the barista, who stands behind the counter with a knowing wink aimed directly at her. The barista's demeanor is calm yet enigmatic, juxtaposed with Jenna's rising sense of bewilderment. The camera focuses on the barista, capturing his subtle grin and the knowing glint in his eyes.

'You're not the only one who can play this game.'