THE CAFE
Helen sat in the cozy corner of the cafe, a few blocks from her house, nursing her cappuccino. She couldn’t help but notice the soft jingle of the doorbell every time it rang, signaling the arrival of another customer. Her gaze flickered toward it instinctively, a habit she had formed over the years of waiting for Olivia.
As she absentmindedly stirred her drink, the doorbell chimed again, and this time, her heart gave a little leap. Her eyes brightened when she saw the familiar face of her friend—the fiery redhead whose presence always seemed to light up the room. Olivia, with her unmistakable, vibrant energy, caught sight of Helen immediately and broke into a wide grin.
"Well, look who it is!" Olivia exclaimed, making her way to the table.
Helen stood up to greet her, and the
