Beneath the Smoke

ng, voices rising, and footsteps echoing on the cracked pavement. Somewhere among it all was Ava Carter, weaving he

ion? The Hon

reshly brewed coffee and buttery pastries greeted her like an old friend. Behind the counter, Mel: he

over her shoulder, her ton

er bag beneath the counter. "Two minutes. Don't

sed. "Besides, your favorite customer

rt as her eyes landed o

ng, like clockwork, he sat in the same spot, a leather briefcase by his side, sipping his espresso as if it wer

morning, he was obliv

ter. "You know, sometimes I think I could spill an ent

Mel said. "Some people are

ointed out, gesturing toward the cr

e the tightness in Ava's chest. Moments like

lry, crafting delicate, one-of-a-kind pieces that told stories. But dreams didn't pay the bills, not in a city

them. She noti

e man in the suit by the window, scrolling through his phone with furrowed brows, a faint shadow of worry etched on his

Mel's voice snapped

inked.

Mel said, smirking. "Unless you p

nced two steaming cups of coffee on

in place while the world raced past her. She wanted more than this. More than cof

rent wasn't going to pay itself, and neither were her student loans. For now, th

nks at table three with

woman said, ba

r, where Mel was eyeing he

sked, setting

cross her face. "You just looked like you w

yes, but she couldn't den

by the time her shift ended, Ava was ready to collapse. She untied he

asked, popping a piece

arms above her head. "I feel like

o comfortable. Tomo

"Thanks for t

e kind that made you feel small and insignificant if you stopped to think about it for too long. Ava pull

yet, but her life w