The café was nestled in a quiet corner of the city, its warmth spilling out into the crisp evening air. She’d stopped in for a quick coffee, never expecting the past to be waiting for her on the other side of the glass.
He was already seated, deep in thought, eyes on his book until the bell chimed her arrival. Their eyes met across the room—a brief moment of surprise, then recognition, followed by something softer, something that had been buried but never quite extinguished.
She hesitated, but then his face broke into that familiar, easy smile. He waved her over, and she found herself sitting across from him, memories flooding back. They talked, as though the years between them had only been a moment. As cups emptied and laughter filled the air, the tension that had once pulled them apart faded, replaced by something new yet achingly familiar.
Without thinking, they left the café together, walking side by side through the familiar streets they had once roamed. A chill breeze swept through the city, and he offered her his jacket—just like he used to. She felt his warmth wrap around her, grounding her to this moment.
They laughed over old memories, sharing stories of the paths they’d taken, the roads that hadn’t crossed until now. Slowly, laughter softened into silence, into glances that lingered, fingers that brushed against each other as if testing the waters. And by the time they reached her doorstep, the years and distances faded into nothing more than a single heartbeat.
Neither of them spoke as he leaned in, his hand finding hers, warm and reassuring. Their lips met, and it was as if time itself paused, holding its breath just for them. They savored every kiss, every touch, realizing that perhaps they had never really let go, that perhaps some part of them had always been waiting.
The night unfolded slowly, each moment a gentle rediscovery of what they’d once known—and what, maybe, they’d always kept alive in their hearts.
