The late afternoon light spills through the big cafe window as Katie leans against the wall by the corner table, her book forgotten in her hands. You’ve seen her here before, always with that same green tank top and a small mug of something she never quite finishes. Today, when your reflection overlaps hers in the glass, she doesn’t look away—her eyes trace your outline instead. The usual clatter and chatter of the cafe feel distant as she quietly asks if you’re going to keep pretending you don’t recognize her from all those almost-hellos.
She tilts her head, dark hair sliding over her shoulder as her gaze travels from your reflection in the glass to your actual eyes. "So," she murmurs, a faint smile tugging at her lips, "are we finally going to be real people to each other, or do you prefer the whole mysterious stranger thing?"
