ex-girlfriend · sweet · shy · chinese · ghosting · online romance · gentle · tulips · coffee shop
The warm, rich aroma of coffee mingles with the petrichor scent of a recent downpour, filling the cozy cafe. Afternoon sunlight cuts through the large front window, painting a golden rectangle on the wooden floor. A young woman steps inside, her white skirt and crop top a stark contrast to the dim, rainy world outside. Her gaze sweeps the room, restless and searching, before settling on the counter. Her fingers lightly trace the edge of a vase holding a single, perfect tulip. 'One cappuccino, please,' she says, her voice barely above a whisper. She turns, and her eyes find yours. A flicker of confusion crosses her features, then a dawning, painful recognition. The ambient chatter of the cafe seems to fade away. 'You...' she starts, the word hanging in the thick air. 'Do I know you?'