Original prompt by: /u/edjamus

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The woman walked down the street, her steps tinged with fatigue and aimlessness. She did not feel tired, the pills took care of that. Even after being on the medication for a few weeks now, she still felt off. Humans have slept for as long as there have been humans. Yet this brand new medication removed the need for sleep. Invented by the government, made mandatory by the Efficiency Act, people did not need to sleep anymore.

Work efficiency skyrocketed, consumerism increased, productivity approached levels unheard of. At first people felt empowered by no longer needing to sleep. They could do more with 24 full hours. They could work more, travel more, play more. Yet a good portion of people were still having trouble adjusting to the new 24 waking hours.

The woman continued to wander. Her books no longer held her attention, her writing lacked the luster it used to have. She still remembered times where she stayed up to write. Now with all the time in the world, she could not find the will. She had energy, the pills ensured that. She could not bring herself to do what she used to.

After a while she realized she was going to a specific destination. Her path was no longer random nor without destination. Her steps had a life to them that they did not since she started the medication. Another moment made her realize why. She smelled something good, the first time she smelled something appetizing in a long time. A side effect of the medication was the body's increased caloric demand. It dulled the taste receptors of the tongue, encouraging the body to ingest food for the sake of energy. People had to eat more than they ever needed to before, and food became fuel.

Her stomach grumbled and she was shocked by that. She had almost forgotten how it felt to be hungry from smell and not from need. The smell seduced her, entranced her. She could not quite place what it was, but she was drawn to it. Following the elusive aroma, she finally stopped in front of a stall.

It was a humble little location, almost out of place compared to the modern urban architecture around it. Small tables ringed in outside area, lanterns hung on poles and shone with warm flickering light. The center piece was a long wooden bar enclosing an open air kitchen. Fragrant spice mingled with smoke in the night sky, the crackling of charcoal danced with the hiss of gas and flame. The tables were full of people and they ate hungrily. Not only that, they seemed to be eating happily, a sight the woman had not seen in a long time.

Her stomach grumbled louder and she walked as if in a dream, past the happy chatter and the clattering of cutlery. An open space at the bar beckoned her and almost as if unaware of her action, she sat down. Smoke and steam wafted about her, blocking the smells of the city from her nose. The wooden table felt smooth under her finger tips, warm and inviting.

Her eyes eventually focused and she saw a man standing behind the counter, a warm smile on his lips. With a start she realized he had spoken to her and she did not register a single word he had said. Cheeks tinged red her lips curled in a sheepish grin. "Oh! I'm so sorry, I uh...didn't hear a word you said..."

He laughed, his voice as warm as the air embracing her. "Don't worry about it. Side effect from the pills huh?' He nodded with her. "It took me a while to shake off too. You'll get there."

She looked about the restaurant. "What...is this place? I haven't seen people like this in a really long time."

"Oh well then welcome to my little place! This is Solace, a place to have a different kind of meal."

"That sounds...wonderful. May I see a menu?"

He shook his head. "No menu here. Well no set menu really. Here at Solace, we provide a different experience. We try to tailor your meal to exactly your needs. If we don't get it quite right, then a hefty discount on your bill."

Her lips spread into a smile of disbelief, of genuine amusement. "Oh? This I have to see."

"Excellent!" The man winked as he handed her a warm towel. "If you'll allow me a few questions as I work, I think I can figure out what you would like."

The towel was just shy of scalding hot, a pleasant wet heat that made her skin tingle pleasantly. She wiped her hands, relishing the steamy heat. She lost herself in the warmth, answering the man's questions.

It seemed like in no time at all the man put a bowl in front of her. It had a wide mouth with deep curved sides, a deep red at the edge that melted into inky black at the base. The bowl held a thick broth, liquid that creamy brown and dotted with islands of golden oil. Green and white scallions decorated the top, like petals on a lake. Yellow hued noodles wove their way in the bowl, cradling thick slices of crisp fatty pork. The golden sun of precious yolks peeked out of soy soaked eggs, boats that floated on an ocean of flavor.

The woman drank deep of the aroma before she did the soup. The first drops of the broth slid slowly down her throat and she had forgotten how it was to eat from desire and not from sheer hunger. The broth seemed to infuse her very being, warming her from her core to the edges of her body. She ate with intensity, not stopping until the bowl was completely empty.

Her eyes sparkled with life and she could not keep the smile from her lips as she looked at the smiling man. "That was extraordinary!" she exclaimed. "That was exactly what I needed."

"I bet you feel better too don't you?" the man replied with a knowing smile.

It was true. The woman felt rejuvenated, energized. Her back had straightened from her former slump, like flower revitalizing from life giving rain. Her eyes saw clearly, she could breath deep. she felt alive. "How is it possible?"

For a few moments the man was quiet, cleaning her bowl and cutlery. "Do you remember why we used to sleep?"

The woman thought. "To get energy back?"

"Yes, partially. We also needed the sleep for comfort, to reset ourselves for the next day. While the pills took away the need for sleep, they didn't provide a new way to provide the comfort we need, the means to recover." He patted the wooden counter top as one would a priceless piece of art. "I knew people would need that, something to help their spirit rest and recover. For just a few moments people could forget about the day's stress and eat for the joy of eating, to be reinvigorated."

It was his turn to blush, his cheeks turning red. "Kind of silly and grandiose to say that maybe, but I know the first time I felt like me again after the mandatory medication was having something I had when I was a little kid, something that never failed to make me feel happy. Does that make sense?"

The woman patted his hand. "Perfectly."