A green parasol with inscription “STARBUCKS COFFEE” provides sunshade for a couple of young immigrants. Susan and Michael sit opposite each other and wait for their French Vanilla Mochas to arrive. The woman is wearing a light blue dress with a big brooch which depicts a lily of the valley. The dress exposes the woman’s thin arms and slender legs for it covers only halves of her thighs. Susan has her latest version of MacBook in front of her and is focused on typing. Her eyes as brown as truffles are moving from left to right, while manicured fingers hit the keys with both English and Russian letters.

One time the woman gives the camera to her husband and leaves the table to pose for a photo. She is standing with her knees bent, with head cant and thick flying hair, while the camera is clicking. Then she sits back at the table and continues typing until barista serves coffee. “Thank you,” she says with a big smile, closes her laptop and puts it aside.

“How is the article going?” Michael asks his wife.

“Very well! I’ll submit it by the end of the week,” Susan replies and takes a sip of her sweet drink, “Oh my God! It’s so tasty! I love it! Sometimes I think that we’re in Paradise. Can’t believe it. A job that I absolutely love. Affording such amazing coffee on my birthday! In such country as U.S.! I’m in a philosophical mood today, you know? I believe that with hard work you can achieve anything. We achieved our Paradise together,” she tenderly puts her fingers on her husband’s hand that is resting on the surface of the table.

“I have a present for you, Susie,” Michael takes a small box out of his bag and gives it to his wife, “Happy birthday, my dear!”

“Oh, wow! Thank you!” Susan opens the box and her rounded eyebrows rise, she closes her mouth with her hands.

“It’s so pretty!” she starts walking around the table to give her husband a hug. He also stands up and they lovingly embrace each other. Then Susan puts the ring with a brilliant on her left middle finger.

Suddenly a person wearing rugs appears. He is strolling down the street with an absent gaze and a large plastic bag full of trash. He decides to rest under a parasol next to Susan and Michael. Susan’s lips pull up and her nose crinkles. She anxiously looks around and notices that other customers of Starbucks start frowning. Susan quickly puts the ring back into the box and hides it securely into her handbag. She also packs her laptop into her bag which she places on her lap.

Michael says, “There’s no need to be so worried. He won’t rob us.”

“How do you know?” Susan asks in a trembling voice, “I hate when these tramps come so close. Why the government doesn’t do anything about them? I actually hate these tramps who enjoy living like animals.”

Michael objects: “Susie, don’t call them animals. They don’t enjoy such life. Our society determines inequality. You and I are just lucky to have both suitable qualities and circumstances…”

Michael waves his hand at the barista.

“May I have a bagel, please?” he asks.

“Are you going to give it to this tramp?” Susan’s eyes become tense and narrow.

“Yes. I feel sorry for him.”

They continue drinking coffee in silence for around 10 minutes. Susan often glances at the man who is sitting on his plastic bag and staring at the blue sky with his red and emotionless eyes. Each time she shudders and hugs herself.

“Susie, let’s not spoil your birthday. We have different views but that’s okay,” Michael suggests peacefully.

“I want this tramp to disappear. I can’t bear him,” Susan says not caring whether anyone else hears her or not.

The barista approaches with the bagel.

Susan with her brows frowned observes how her husband approaches the man and gives him food. They exchange some words that Susan does not hear due to the traffic noise. When Michael comes back, Susan exclaims:

“I’ll call the police, so that they remove him from here. He is not supposed to be in the café because he is not paying. Why is the staff ignoring him?”

Susan takes out her phone.

“Oh my God!” Susan exclaims and shows the screen of her phone to Michael, “Look at this!”

Michael feels how his heart skips the beat when he notices unexpected fear in the raised eyebrows and opened mouth of his wife. He glances at the screen and reads: “Solar Superstorm Warning. Danger of solar superstorm hitting the Earth. Power grid in North America will be destroyed in 60 minutes. Do not panic. Check local authorities.”

Michael frowns his brows and his lips become tight. Susan starts googling “sun superstorm” on her phone.

“Let’s go! We have to get to the closest bank and withdraw money. Otherwise we will lose it,” Michael exclaims and looks around. People are yet unaware of the approaching catastrophe.

Susan does not hear him – she is too focused on skimming an article about solar superstorm. She sees with the corner of her eyes how Michael approaches people at the other table. They all jump to their feet. Gradually noise around Susan intensifies, people are engaged into nervous discussions.

“Let’s go! To the bank! To get the money!” Michael repeats loudly, as he approaches Susan.

“What’s the point?” Susan exclaims, raising her tear-soaked eyes that are black as night, “Money is useless now! Think about how many people will lose it in just one hour! Do you want to be murdered with so much cash on your hands?”

She stands up and looks at the sky. She is left breathless: Aurora is shining across the sky. Bright blue, green, magenta colors are reflecting in her eyes. Susan’s fingers find her wallet in her hand bag. She quickly walks into the café, leaving the bag with her laptop on the chair.

“I’d like a cake, please,” she gives the last cash she has to the young woman who looks shocked. The woman accepts cash and gives a plate with the cake. She is still not realizing that soon cash machines will stop working.

Susan approaches the poor man and gives him the cake. He is completely distant from the panic surrounding him. The pauper is enjoying the bagel; he gives Susan a toothless smile.

Susan smiles back and buries her face into her palms to hide the tears that rash out of her eyes that are dark as endless universe. Her shoulders are shudder due to laments.