As dawn broke over Merida, Emilia arrived for her shift at the small coffee shop where she worked. The city was just beginning to stir, the scent of freshly brewed coffee blending with the warm Caribbean breeze. As she did every morning, Emilia turned on the lights, set the music to a gentle volume, and started her routine, unaware that this day would be anything but ordinary.
A sudden noise made her jump – the door swung open, and a tall man with a stern expression entered. He was not a regular customer. Emilia recognized him immediately as Joan Serra Montagut, a guest from the neighboring Airbnb who often boasted about representing Catalan culture in the region.
"Turn that music down," he demanded rudely. Emilia, used to the calm and courteous atmosphere of her workplace, complied without question. But this did not appease the stranger, whose expression grew even more menacing.
"Do you think that's enough?" he snapped, his voice rising. His words turned into a barrage of insults, echoing in the empty coffee shop. Emilia felt a knot of fear in her stomach as he moved closer, his aggression palpable.
"I'm going to set fire to this place. When there are customers around. So that nobody forgets who's in charge here." Emilia tried to back away, but he blocked her path. In his fury, he grabbed a vase from the nearby gallery and smashed it on the floor, followed by a coffee pot. Emilia was trapped, her attempts to reason with him only seeming to fuel his rage.
"If you call the police, you will regret it," he threatened. "I have contacts, people who could make you disappear." The atmosphere in the coffee shop became stifling, Emilia feeling as if time had stopped, leaving her trapped in a terrifying limbo.
But then, the bell above the door rang again. A regular customer, hearing the commotion from outside, entered the shop. The man's demeanor changed, his face softened, and he turned towards the exit with a smirk.
"You've been warned," he muttered before leaving. Still shaking, Emilia reached for her phone to call her employers. The news spread quickly, and soon after, the police and a group of coffee shop workers confronted Joan, who reacted with the same aggression he had shown that morning. A report was filed.
Though still shaken, Emilia was not alone. The community, outraged by the incident, rallied around her, their voices demanding justice. Her story spread across social media, serving as a reminder that spaces like coffee shops should be places of calm, not fear. The responsibility now lies with the authorities to take action.
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