The next morning dawned cold and pale, the storm long gone but the air still heavy with Aisha’s lingering exhaustion.
She arrived at work early, as she always did, hoping the quiet routine would settle the nerves still tangled in her chest.
But the moment she stepped through the back hallway of the café, her breath froze.
Daniel was waiting.
He leaned against the wall near the staff lockers, arms crossed, expression dark with something that wasn’t regret so much as irritation—like she had inconvenienced him by having feelings at all.
“Aisha,” he said sharply. “We need to talk.”
Her stomach dropped. “Daniel… please. Not here.”
He pushed off the wall and stepped toward her, blocking her path. “Why have you been ignoring me?” His voice lowered into a pleading whine. “I told you I was
