Short story inspered from a Hopper's painting. I wasn't able to return at home after his depart to China. The idea of being alone in a huge flat again terrify me so much at the moment that I decided to go in this automat at the fifty seven street and seven avenue of New York City, where we used to go ith James. We came here since it opened in 1912 I though that bars or cafés didn't bring out the same mood: These place used to for me just enough simple and comfortable but came here didn't even reduced my sorrow. I probably shouldn't came here as the fact that I pass through the door and feel the new stackness of the room fill my heart with loneliness and remember me that he was gone for a while. Inside, for the first time I see the room totaly empty even if it was never full of people usually but it seems that the presence of James make the place less coldness I think so.After buying our coffee , we used to seat there, around this table, next to the door and the window, we could watching every persons who passed the automat and those who came into it. We imagined with James their life because we though that those persons are more than simple bodies which went somewhere but people who had a story and probably many problems. Tonight nobody came into the automat or then I maybe didn't see ... Think about him let me feel like he is still front of me but the reality isn't too cheerful as that memories. James is a brillant officer of the New London navale base and he is devoted for his job and his nation so when his superior, captain Butter proposed him to participate at an expedition in China for one years he didn't hesitate a seconde. He explain me that he must going away to permit Standard Oil, an American producing and refining comapany to deliver the oil and do her business in peace. We talked many times about his departure around this table, in that place and each time he justify his choice and stoped the conversation by "it's my duty". Since he came back after the World War where he lost his best friend, he didn't stop to talk about duty and honnor. I don't know what happened there but it totally changed his mind without thinking about our relation. I have never told him because it will be selfish and I know how his career count for him and I wish be able to say the same. Now I can less and less supporting his expedition even if he doesn't go there for fight but we never know what will happen. And currently I am in this automat, drinking a coffee that it never seems so bitter.