n longer evenings spent reflecting on my decisions. A part of me was happy that Alexander hadn't come

Vendors yelled cars honked, and the subtle scent of street food and coffee filled the air. However, my mind

of my trance by

dly pulled my hair into a

grin a far cry from my gloomy disposition. "Good morning, s

o give her access. Scarcel

uch. We're simply living the dream, you know. Thou

best friends with Mia, but even she might not th

esponded, "It's nothing." "Just y

she didn't seem persuaded. "Well, you wil

did was tighten the knot in my chest.

constant flow of patrons leaving little opportunity for my mind to stray. But a

xan

immediately, and my pulse skipped a beat. With the same assured gait th

he said in a ca

mpting to seem impartial. "Wha

ad hoped for another suggestion. It appears that yo

but I decided to overlook it. We have a brand-new haz

ideal. I'l

tention on me as I made his drink. It f

king, "Do you have

t Mia, who was engaged in conversation with a

on my apron as I followed h

pologize again for the other day." "It's unfair that you

ure Victoria's cold look, I hu

uld be treated." I was surprised by the earnestness in

At last, I enquired. "Why is it im

. Since I recognize something in you, Lorena. Some

hurn with a mixture of exhilaration and anxiety. I said, "Y

ad enough encounters to know when I see

stare. Although I wanted to trust him, I had learned fr

Even I was surprised at how vul

nor was almost melancholy. "You have nothing

a cried out before I could

I broke the ench

usly," he said, standing up as wel

t as he left the café. Did I own more

you, Lorena. Something I'm not

o recognize potential when I see

arks as I lay in bed that nig

lexander, I was confident that my life had changed from the u

rst time in years, I wasn't sure wheth