When Strangers Wish

ty's nightly bustle. The apartment's warmth felt pleasant, like a

othes and tossed them into a basket beside t

e money, and her absent-minded

d her, and the prospect of sipping a warm b

hower. Her hair was wrapped in a matching towel-not for looks,

she went to the cabinet an

notifications while she wait

he put the hot water in and stirred, seeing the ingredients dissolv

o get an update on events at the shop. She couldn't return to

e TV show, happy with Claire's report. She then took a seat on the plush s

arm beverage, and felt even more at ea

over her in seconds. One moment, she was walking down the street with neatly arranged clothes and well-styled h

any attention, she felt exposed, as if she were naked. To rel

crawled up her spine. How humiliating! She dismis

unable to stay still. They drew her to the exac

ith an umbrella. He was heading somewhere b

as busy. People were racing to get away from t

their eyes met. It felt as though it was only the two o

e lovely, warm feeling of the drink and thinking of the stranger to embr

her thoughts kept returning to the stranger, replaying the incident and inexplicable connection. Even a

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the shop's fresh blooms and aroma seemed to excite her even more. The brilliant colors and fragrances o

ost euphoric intensity. She also hummed a melody pleasantly and engagingly while she w

ned, setting down her watering can an

f Claire's face made her smile uncontrollably. She appeared rather envious and w

?" Juliette mocked, chuckli

spill the goods." She stood akimbo, tilting her head as if

responded, "Oh, it's nothing,

ant, irrepressible grin told Claire she wa

nd you've been flushing

both hands to her face, eyes wide. "So basic

interpret what was going on with her. "You and Antoi

d so quickly as if to stop Claire from associating

e truth. It would be best if I told her now and saved us both the trou

and added, "Wait, you ran into a guy? Jules, are you serious right now?" Next thing, she let out a sc

e get your digits? What's his freaking name?" The words just spilled out, tripping over each other-she was

valanche of questions. "Whoa, Claire, s

been making wild gestures, fell to her sides. Her eyes lost their eager radiance an

rther and led her to a plush chair. After they sat on

ry, as she obviously wanted the com

h the sudden downpour. She told her how she raced for cover and the humiliating feeling of her shir

s umbrella. When our eyes met, he stopped, as if someone pressed a remote and paused him. In that instant, everything-the rain, the traffic-all ceased to exist. His eyes, Claire, his eye

ised her hands to her chest in

e out quickly and painted a clear image of the stranger. She described how the

at Juliette was saying and also worried about it. "Y

thought you didn't like Antoine that much?" she i

n't, God forgive me." Her eyes had a pleasant shine. She started smiling

the guy's name! How can we trace him so that you can revisit

experience'?" Juliette querie

cheeky sparkle in her eyes, Claire declared,

launch it to stop Claire from spewing such 'crap.' But Claire, anticipatin

outique, leaving Juliette