ECHOS OF US

V

thick with the scent of espresso and t

r leg tucked under her as she furiously scribbles, he

the face of a stranger she's never met, but there's an ache

owing her eyes at the page. "Ugh. Too

es for he

t straight o

liquid soaring through

lides with so

ed to be walking by at

u kiddi

re, frozen in horror, staring at the coffee stain

bl

n

s... fa

I

r a quiet place to write, but fate-

ading for the counter. The next, he's got a b

ed sound, part frustr

voice says. "I-

t the mess, then

he forgets how

im with wide, horrified eyes-s

his is impossible. It

y?" she ask

long. He clears his throat. "Yeah. J

ed laugh, and somethi

says, smirking, "I hope yo

as he tugs at his ruined sh

w cof

ew s

ld of you to a

t he already knows-he's

w, not