London · Shoreditch
February 3, 2025 · 15:30
The café was hidden deep within a narrow alley, its entrance so slim that only one person could pass through at a time. When Eva pushed open the door, the wind chime rang softly.
Cherry had told her last night that Claire had contacted Caroline and arranged to meet today.
Claire could have reached out to Eva directly—so why go through Caroline? The question lingered in Eva’s mind, though she had little time to dwell on it.
Claire sat at the innermost table, her back to the door.
Eva approached. Her heels struck the wooden floor—one step, then another—like the ticking of a countdown.
Claire did not turn around.
Eva took the seat across from her.
Outside the window, the sky was gray—utterly gray, without depth or dimension, like something
