Porcelain Hearts Burn Slow

the world feel like it was holding its breath. For Lilan Reyes

rmination. Maybe madness. She wore her plainest jeans and a black sweater, but added a single

creature waking. She moved with careful precision-scrubbing the milk steamer until it gleamed, w

No sugar. Almond

she'd done some

she'd bought a small bag of Ethiopian heirloom beans. Bright, floral, high-acid no

rembled as

Not a single bubble. She placed the lid carefully, aligni

ome. Ple

he bell above the

ent

wasn'

heart pl

oat that probably cost more than Lilan's rent. She laughed as they walke

pushed slightly up his wrists. Disheveled perfection. His eye

ht up-straightening, smoothing her sweate

Not to her. And de

d straight t

't feel. Her hand brushed the c

for it-th

d down a

erately, he p

ifted the cup to his mouth and sipped. Not casually. Not dist

ds pa

rose. And lo

opped br

st bit. His expression didn'

ne sen

change th

tle. I added a dash of Ethiopian blend. Brigh

hat lasted far longer

h

tte

rmth, but with precis

slammed agai

y, trying not to coll

ing else. Just turn

aised an eyebrow. "Yo

't answ

d toward

learly less amused n

Li

the counter, ch

went. Customers smiled or grumbled. Lilan nodd

s still trapped

change t

tt

tasted it. He

someone else

ced the differe

the rain, her coat clinging to he

stop at her

bench across the street. There, under the dim gl

umb, but her thoug

drank it-tasted. Measur

omething an

mportant. He barely looked at h

nothing. Mayb

dn't feel

I cracked s

racture in a

book and held i

t smile.

lt the weight of something shi

ust beautif

as r

far more addicti