The coffee shop was quiet, save for the hum of the espresso machine and the occasional murmur of conversation. It was the kind of place where the world outside faded into obscurity. A small pocket of peace amidst the chaos of the city. Paul sat by the window, his fingers wrapped around a plain black coffee that had long since gone cold. He had chosen a seat in the corner, facing the entrance. Old habits died hard.
The door chimed as it opened, and the woman he had been waiting on stepped inside. She spotted him instantly, making her way over with the confidence of someone who had nothing to fear. Paul watched her approach, carefully studying the way she carried herself. There was no wasted movement, no hesitation. She had the look of someone who had made a tough decision long before stepping through that door.
She slid into the seat across from him, after ordering and placing a caramel macchiato on the table with a deliberate grace. "You came early."
