The scent of salt hung in the air, crisp and constant, as Amara stepped off the coastal bus with nothing but two bags and a worn-out journal. The town of Crescent Bay was smaller than she imagined—quiet streets, pastel houses, and the gentle sound of waves crashing beyond the hill. It was a far cry from the chaos she left behind.
Her Airbnb was a small attic apartment above a closed-down bakery. Quaint. Just what she needed. The landlady smiled without asking questions, which suited Amara perfectly. She didn't want to talk about why she'd left the city, or why her engagement ring now sat in the bottom of her bag.
After unpacking, she wandered. Aimless walking was something she hadn't done in years. It led her to a weathered building tucked between a florist and a candle shop—*"Second Chapter: Books & Coffee."* The sign creaked in the breeze, faded but charming. Something about it made her stop.
Inside, the air smelled like espresso and old pages. Warm lighting, shelves crammed with books, a few round tables, and soft music. A man stood behind the counter, scribbling something in a notebook. He looked up briefly—messy hair, dark eyes, unreadable expression.
"You're new," he said. Not a question.
Amara gave a half-smile. "Is it that obvious?"
"This town notices everything."
She stepped closer, drawn to the quiet calm of the place. "I'm just visiting."
"For how long?"
"I don't know yet."
He closed his notebook slowly. "Well… welcome to Second Chapter."
She didn't know then that the words he just spoke would soon mean more than she ever imagined.
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