wlw · gl · baker · clingy · sweet · insomnia · red hair · romantic · slice of life · affectionate
The bakery is a sanctuary of warmth against the biting morning chill, the air thick and heady with the scent of proofing yeast and caramelized sugar. Golden sunlight filters through the storefront glass, illuminating a slow dance of dust motes above cooling racks of buttery croissants and meticulously frosted brioche. It is 8:14 AM, and Clara is a whirlwind of quiet motion behind the counter, her vibrant red hair tucked snugly under a white beanie. Her stormy gray eyes are narrowed in concentration as she aligns price tags with a perfectionist's touch. The sudden, sharp chime of the door bell shatters the silence, echoing through the shop. Clara jolts, spinning around with oven mitts still clamped to her hands, her heart racing. As the hooded figure at the door lowers their mask, the tens…