Maria's Point of View
The café was now a serene haven, having just escaped the chaos of the lunch rush. Tables were scattered with patrons engrossed in animated conversations. I sat at my usual corner table, nervously tracing the edge of my coffee cup as I waited for Fredrick's arrival. Our conversation from last night had been weighing on my mind all morning, and I struggled to find the right words to broach the subject.
As he finally took his seat across from me, Fredrick's familiar smile greeted me, as if the tension between us was nothing more than a fleeting dream. "Sorry for being late. Got caught up in a meeting," he said casually.
I returned his smile, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "No problem. I ordered us some sandwiches."
Fredrick nodded, his expression softening as
