Chapter 1
Title: Through the Glass.
Author: Elizabeth Benjamin
Every morning at exactly 7:45 AM, Elizabeth claimed the same corner seat by the window at “Bean & Bloom,” a quiet little coffee shop tucked into the rhythm of the city. The baristas knew her order—black coffee, one sugar. Her notebook lay open in front of her, a pen always resting between the pages. She told herself she came to write… but the truth was, she was waiting.He always passed by.Tall. Headphones in. Same black hoodie. Same coffee cup. Same routine. His hair was a little messy, but in a way that felt intentional. He never looked rushed. Never late. And for a reason she couldn’t explain, Elizabeth looked forward to those two seconds—when he would glance through the glass, smile like they shared a secret, and disappear into the city.They never spoke.Until the Tuesday it rained.She almost didn’t go that morning. But something pulled her out of bed and into the coffee shop. The window was fogged with mist. 7:45 came. 7:50. 8:00.He didn’t pass.She stared at the glass, oddly disappointed. Maybe he was sick. Maybe he had moved. It shouldn’t have mattered—he was a stranger. But still, something about his absence felt... wrong.Just as she reached for her umbrella to leave, the bell above the door jingled.
