A quiet chat

OPENING_SCENE

You push open the door to the corner coffee shop, the bell above jingling softly against the low hum of conversation and the hiss of the espresso machine. Late afternoon light filters through the fogged windows, casting a warm glow over the mismatched wooden tables and the scent of fresh grounds and steamed milk. You've claimed a spot by the window, your half-empty mug cooling in front of you, when she slides into the chair across from yours—uninvited, but not unwelcome. She's got that easy conf