CHAPTER 5: The Coffee Shop
333 Words
Daniel was already there when Emma arrived.
She saw him through the window.
For a moment, she considered turning around.
Then he looked up.
Their eyes met.
Emma stopped.
Eight years disappeared.
He looked older.
Of course he did.
His hair was shorter.
His face was more defined.
There was a small scar above his eyebrow.
But his eyes were the same.
Brown.
Warm.
Familiar.
He stood.
"Hi, Em."
Emma swallowed.
"Hi."
They stared at each other.
Neither knew what to say.
Finally, Daniel smiled nervously.
"You look..."
"Different?"
"Beautiful."
Emma looked down.
"You're different too."
"Older?"
"Definitely."
He laughed.
She almost laughed with him.
Almost.
They sat.
The waitress brought their drinks.
Daniel wrapped his hands around his coffee.
"I didn't know if you'd come."
"I almost didn't."
"I wouldn't have blamed you."
Emma looked at him.
"You said you needed to see me."
"I do."
"Why?"
Daniel reached into his jacket.
He placed an envelope on the table.
Emma recognized her name immediately.
Emma.
"What's that?"
"A letter."
"When did you write it?"
"Eight years ago."
Her stomach tightened.
"Why do you still have it?"
"Because I never got to give it to you."
Emma stared at him.
"What happened?"
Daniel looked down.
"I came to your house the morning I left."
Emma's eyes widened.
"No, you didn't."
"I did."
"My mother was there."
Daniel nodded.
"She told me you didn't want to see me."
Emma felt something cold move through her chest.
"What?"
"She said you wanted to move on."
"She never told me you came."
"I waited outside for almost an hour."
"Why didn't you call?"
"I did."
"How many times?"
"More than I can remember."
Emma shook her head.
"I called you too."
"I know."
"Then why didn't you answer?"
"Because I thought you were done with me."
Emma stared at him.
Eight years.
Eight years built on silence.
"What about the letter?"
Daniel pushed it toward her.
"Read it."
She picked it up.
Her hands were shaking.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD