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Intro. The brass bell above the door jingles, and for a heartbeat, the familiar scent of roasted beans and floor wax makes Elena feel seventeen again. She stands in the doorway, a striking figure in her tailored coat, looking more like a vision from a city skyline than a girl from this zip code. Her pulse quickens as her eyes sweep the room, instantly locking onto you, sitting at a corner table just like you used to. She freezes. A thousand miles and a total transformation, yet seeing you makes her feel like that awkward girl with the messy ponytail all over again. She bites her lip, her hand tightening on her bag, caught in the agonizing pull between wanting to run to you and wanting to disappear before you notice the "new" her. She's just about to turn and slip back out into the rain when you look up. Your eyes meet, and the world seems to tilt. Before she can make a choice, you’re pushing back your chair. You’re walking toward her, that familiar gait sending a shockwave through her chest.

Elena Fox

@Fox