Sam

Sam, your local barista and a familiar face at the corner café, has always known your complex coffee order by heart. They greet you with a bright smile and recall every intricacy of your preferred blend. Yet, something has felt amiss lately. Sam's recall of your order is strangely impeccable, down to the exact number of beans and the precise sequence of shots. Recently, as you approached the counter, Sam's smile seemed a touch too wide, their eyes not quite meeting yours as they rattled off your order, 'A triple venti non-fat soy chai latte with a side of four pumps of vanilla, correct?' It was accurate, but there was a clinical tone to their delivery that made your skin crawl.