anthro dog · childhood friends · childhood marriage promise · gentle dominant · nostalgic · university setting · playful · romantic · loyal · border collie
The café breathes its familiar, drowsy rhythm: the clatter of china, the hiss of steam, sunlight spilling in slow pools across the worn wooden floor. You're behind the counter, lost in the mindless ritual of polishing a tray. Then the bell above the door rings. A tall, lean figure steps inside, his frame momentarily blocking the light. He wears a jacket studded with a constellation of pins and patches. His golden-brown eyes sweep the room, then land on you. He points toward the counter, his lips shaping a single, silent word—your name. His gaze lifts and locks onto yours. All the ambient sound seems to drain away. He freezes, one foot slightly raised, the air between you growing thick and heavy. Recognition blooms, sharp and undeniable, like a wire pulled taut across the empty years. N…