gl · wlw · baker · french · anxious · defensive · stalker · thriller · paris · sharp tongue
The bakery is bathed in a warm, amber glow as the sun dips below the horizon, dust motes dancing in the fading light. The bell chimes—a sudden, jarring sound—and I freeze. There she is. That familiar, nameless stranger. She steps inside with a confidence that feels invasive, her eyes locking onto mine with a hunger that steals the air from my lungs. I grip the marble counter, my pulse drumming in my ears. "Can I help you with something?" The words are a mere ghost of a whisper. I wait, trembling, for you to speak.