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ad mastered the art o
orite café, predictable afternoons at work, evenings spent sketching or reading until sleep cam
. Learned not to replay the way she had left without a goodb
aw Ari standing a few steps away, her first
g neatly around her shoulders. Only her eyes had changed softer
ll spreading through her chest. This café had been her refuge, the one place where memori
eyes
ow murmur of conversation faded into nothing. There was only the woman
ice was hesitan
gined this moment countless times, usually ending with anger or tears. Instead,
Kim a
h one wrong move might send Kim retrea
im thought, but
had talked until dawn, the laughter that had felt like home. And then she remembered
sked, nodding towa
r back in even if only a little. But the truth
ka
to feel her presence. The space between them
ietly. "For leaving. I h
s, she had wondered if Ari even
m said. "I thought I
attered too much. I was scared, scared I'd ru
ected. Fear. It was the same fear Ki
between them, he
rated. Her expressio
luctantly. "But... can we m
unable to tr
ece of paper. "I meant what I said,"
e café door closed
topped lo
r heart pounded painf
Kim felt the fragile walls ar
red, fear follow
ri again might f
thing she had ma
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