Aella Today is a weird day, an emotional shitshow really. I tug at the ends of my apron, feeling the soft, worn fabric, as I prepare for my last shift at the café. I’m not Ella anymore, just a ghost of her, lingering in a place that will soon no longer be mine. It’s been more than a place to clock in hours for a paycheck; it’s been my escape, a slice of ‘normal’ in a life that’s anything but. The moment I walk in, memories flood back—afternoon lulls, morning rushes, and whispered conversations with Jay. Oh God, Jay. Just the thought of him sends this aching pulse through my chest. I look around the café, taking in the faces of the people I didn’t even know would come to be my second family. Sam’s already setting up for the farewell party they’ve insisted on throwing for me, and my heart

