Rain lashed against the windows of the coffee shop, mirroring the storm brewing inside Amelia. She stirred her latte with unnecessary force, the ceramic mug clinking loudly against the teaspoon. Across from her, a woman with bright red lipstick and a dazzling smile was gushing about her amazing weekend. Amelia picked at a loose thread on her jeans, avoiding eye contact. Apparently, “amazing” included a romantic picnic, a trip to the botanical gardens, and the most thoughtful gift imaginable. Amelia’s date had been a hastily arranged dinner and an awkward movie. The details didn’t quite match up, even with generous interpretation.
“He’s just the sweetest, most generous…” The red-lipped woman trailed off, noticing Amelia’s complete lack of enthusiasm. "You okay? You seem a little…distant."
Amelia finally looked up. “Yeah, fine,” she mumbled, her voice flat. "Just a bit… distracted." She focused on the drips of condensation tracing patterns on the cold glass. The woman’s phone buzzed; she beamed at the screen. “Oh, that’s him! Gotta go! It was lovely meeting you!”
As the woman hurried out, Amelia’s gaze fell on a familiar leather-bound notebook tucked under the other woman's arm. The same one she'd gifted her date. The same one he'd said he treasured.