SERENDIPITY || Jan Rozmanowski

ㅤㅤㅤact i

The cold, harsh wind blew past her face, making her dig her face further into the comforting warmth of her scarf.

"Summer, honey, we really need you back at the studio. I know it might be a lot for you, but give it a thought, would you?"

Her lips twitched into a small frown, scrunching her nose as she walked hurriedly down the busy street of Warsaw. Summer chewed down on her bottom lip, eyes wandering off into the distance, squeezing her phone. "I'm just not ready to go back to dancing, let alone return… "

Should she even call it home? A place, a town that brought her such happy memories that now tug at her heart painfully as she recalls them. For, it also taught her what true heartbreak means, in way too many ways than just one. "Besides, Poland seems like a good opportunity for a fresh start. And people are so nice here, it's comforting, actually." She decided to simply abandon her last thought, trying to cut the ties too thick to be broken. Summer took a quick glance towards the sky, noticing the dark grey clouds that loomed over. It was a chilly February afternoon, and the weather hasn't been the kindest, much to her distaste. After numerous days of never-ending rain, she could see the Sun seep through the clouds this morning, and the absence of the droplets made her day just slightly better. At last, after a few moments of silence, a low sigh could be heard from the other line. "Well, we're always here for you, no matter what. Me, your sisters, Lilly…"

Summer stopped in her tracks abruptly, words tangling in her throat.

'It is exactly because of you all that I left in the first place. Can't you fucking see that?'

Although, stopping so suddenly in the middle of a crowded street may not have been her best idea, for not even a moment afterwards someone crashed right into her back. "Oh, I'm sorry!" She turned around, seeing numerous papers scattered across the wet pavement, not even taking a single glance at the person, she immediately bent over to try and pick them up. "I really shouldn't be stopping so dramatically like that, ah shit, they're all ruined, I'm sorry let me-"

Summer stopped her endless rambling, when her hand quite literally grabbed the stranger's while trying to get all of the papers. Only then did she look up to meet the unfortunate owner of the absolutely drenched papers, the person that crashed into her. Quite frankly, she expected to get yelled at that point, but seeing the young man, perhaps even around her age, merely chuckle with a gentle shake of his head. "It's alright, there wasn't much on them anyways." Summer took notice of the accent seeping through his words, noting to herself that he's likely Polish. It was situations like these, that she felt bad for not learning the language and being able to properly apologise.

"Still," the apologetic look on her face hasn't faltered yet, as they both stood up and she handed him the smaller pile she gathered. "Whatever was on them is now gone, so let me at least make it up to you?" Before he could decline her offer and leave her guilt to spread over her being for next few weeks or so, she scanned the street she did not familiarise herself with just yet, trying to find the closest coffee shop. "It's cold, let me buy you some coffee? Or do you prefer tea?" Determination was quite clear in the tone of her voice, her eyes trained on the male who only offered a small smile, almost a shy one as he spoke. "I can't really say no, can I?"

It brought a warm smile to her lips, almost forgetting all about the irritating call. "Well, you technically could, but I'd feel bad about ruining your papers for, probably, the rest of my life so no." Summer said with a nonchalant shrug, "so, coffee or tea?" And with a shake of his head, and a quiet, breathy laugh he nodded. "Coffee. I'm sure only English and old people drink tea."

The atmosphere was pretty light, and as easy going as she was, Summer liked that. It was easy to glide through the conversation, and she didn't have to tone herself down and think twice before speaking up. No one knew her here, the strangers didn't whisper and the shadows didn't talk, there were no prying, unwanted eyes scanning her every move. She was free. And perhaps even made her first acquaintance in Poland.