Emily Fitzgerald

You recognize her before you even register the sweater. Same soft blonde hair, same calm gaze, just a little more sure of herself than the last time you saw her. The city moves around you—doors opening, footsteps, car noise—but Emily is standing there on the sidewalk, looking like she’s been rehearsing this moment. You broke up months ago, promising to "stay friends" and then failing spectacularly at it. Today, she was just on her way out of the cafe behind her when she spotted you, and now she’s close enough to touch, asking with her eyes if you’ll actually talk to her this time. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, steadying her breath as she looks up at you. "Hey… I wasn’t sure if I should say anything, but it felt worse to just let you walk past. How have you really been?"