It was a Tuesday morning when Diana decided to stop by her usual coffee shop. She had an important presentation at work and thought a strong coffee might help clear her mind. The café was her refuge on difficult days, a place where voices blended with the soft hum of espresso machines and the aroma of freshly ground coffee seemed to ease the built-up tension.
That particular day, the rain was tapping against the windows, and the dim light created a warm, almost intimate atmosphere. Diana felt at ease, as if she could leave all her worries behind for a moment. She took a seat at a table near the window, watching how the raindrops slid down the glass, forming chaotic yet hypnotic patterns. Lost in thought, she barely noticed someone approaching until she heard a soft, polite voice.
—Excuse me, do you mind if we share the table?,It's a bit crowded today.
Diana looked up and found an unfamiliar face, yet curiously familiar.
He was a man in his mid-thirties, with a slightly shy smile and a pair of dark, deep eyes that seemed to look beyond the surface. His hair was messy, as if the rain had played a trick on him, and he wore a dark gray scarf that complemented his look—someone who didn't care much about appearances. Something about him sparked Diana's curiosity.
Normally, she would have declined the offer, especially after deciding to close her heart, but this time was different. Maybe it was the way he looked at her, without hurry or expectations, or simply the fact that he seemed so normal, as if he had always been there. She nodded, allowing him to sit.
—Thank you —he said with a light smile and settled into the chair across from her. After a moment of silence, which normally would have been awkward, he added,
—I like coming here to write, but it seems like today everyone had the same idea.
Diana smiled at the comment; there was something disarmingly sincere about him, as if he wasn't trying to impress her but simply share a moment in that common space, and she decided to play along.
—You write? —she asked, trying to sound casual. He nodded, and his eyes lit up with enthusiasm.
—Well, sort of. I'm not a writer, but I like to capture ideas, thoughts—nothing too elaborate. It's like a way to organize my inner world.
Diana felt a slight vibration in her chest. It wasn't common for her to find someone who shared her interest in introspection. Most people she had met talked about superficial things or ambitious goals, but he seemed to see the world from a different perspective.