The morning sun was practically singing as Amelia bounced down the street. Today was the day! Leo, her best friend, was finally going to get his promotion at the prestigious law firm. Amelia had already picked out the perfect congratulatory gift – a vintage fountain pen she knew he’d adore. She could practically taste the celebratory champagne already. He'd been working so hard for this, burning the midnight oil, always buried in paperwork. Reaching the cafe, she practically skipped inside, the bell above the door chiming a cheerful greeting.
"He'll be here any minute now," she thought, a thrill bubbling inside. The barista winked as Amelia ordered a double espresso, a familiar gesture that fueled her anticipation. She spotted him then, across the crowded room, and her smile faltered. There he was, but he wasn’t alone. And he wasn’t wearing a suit. He was laughing, genuinely laughing, with a woman she’d never seen before, her hand resting warmly on his arm.
A hollow feeling began to spread in Amelia’s chest. The woman was wearing an apron, and the cafe behind them was not a bustling law firm. She slowly approached. The warmth from before drained from her as she saw the logo on the woman’s apron. “Leo?” she asked, her voice sounding a little too thin.