𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 ๋࣭⭑𝘥. 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯

𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

seven years later

as lucille walked through the aisles of the store, her mind preoccupied with the mundane task of shopping, she never expected her day to take a sudden turn. it happened in an instant—a collision of bodies and apologies as she bumped straight into a man about her age, sending a few items scattering to the floor.

"oh, i'm so sorry!" the man exclaimed, reaching out to help gather the fallen items. lucille couldn't help but smile at his genuine concern. "no worries, accidents happen," she replied, bending down to pick up a can that had rolled away.

their eyes met briefly, and lucille felt a flicker of curiosity about the stranger she had just collided with. he was tall, with kind eyes and a warm smile that put her at ease.

"um, would you like to grab a cup of coffee with me?" the man asked, his tone hopeful yet respectful. lucille hesitated for a moment, her mind flashing back to a time when coffee dates and chance encounters had been part of a different life. but she pushed aside the memories, reminding herself that it was time to move forward.

"that sounds lovely, actually," lucille replied, returning his smile. "lead the way." the cafe they entered was cozy, with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. they found a table by the window, and as they settled into their seats, lucille couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation mingled with a hint of nervousness.

"i'm david, by the way," the man introduced himself, extending his hand across the table." lucille," she replied, shaking his hand with a polite smile. their conversation flowed easily, starting with simple topics like the weather and gradually delving into more personal anecdotes.

lucille learned that david was a carpenter who had recently moved to tulsa for work. he had a passion for building things, like houses and such.

in turn, lucille shared snippets of her life—a brief overview of her career in marketing, her love for reading, and her fondness for long walks in the park. she omitted the more complicated parts of her past, focusing instead on the present moment.

as they sipped their coffee and exchanged stories, lucille found herself enjoying david's company. he was easy to talk to, with a good sense of humor and a genuine interest in getting to know her.

"so, what brought you to the store today?" david asked, raising an eyebrow curiously. lucille chuckled, recounting her mundane shopping list and the unexpected detour that had led to their meeting.

"i guess sometimes the best things happen when you least expect them," she remarked, a thoughtful expression crossing her features.

their conversation continued to flow effortlessly, each topic revealing more layers of their personalities. lucille found herself laughing at david's jokes, sharing her own stories, and feeling a sense of warmth in his presence.

as the afternoon stretched on, lucille realized that she had lost track of time—a rarity in her usually busy schedule. she glanced at her watch, surprised at how quickly the hours had passed.