The Coffee Spill
Rain lashed against the windows of "The Daily Grind," blurring the city lights into hazy streaks. Inside, amidst the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, Maya nervously clutched her textbook, trying to ignore the pounding of her heart. This was her first day at the university, and already she felt utterly overwhelmed.
Suddenly, a clumsy figure bumped into her, sending a scalding wave of latte cascading across her pristine white sweater. "Oh my god, I am so incredibly sorry!" A voice, rich and apologetic, broke through her stunned silence.
She looked up. He was tall, with messy brown hair that fell over his forehead, and eyes the color of melted chocolate. He was... breathtaking.
"It's... it's okay," Maya stammered, her cheeks burning. The coffee stain spread like a dark, unwelcome bloom across her chest.
"No, it's not okay!" He insisted, his brow furrowed with concern. "Let me buy you another coffee... and maybe a new sweater?" He offered a hesitant smile, revealing a charming dimple in his left cheek.
His name was Liam, and he was everything Maya wasn't: confident, outgoing, and utterly charming. Over steaming mugs of coffee, they talked for hours, discovering a shared love for old movies and a mutual dislike for early morning classes. But as the night deepened, a shadow fell over their budding connection. Liam revealed a secret that threatened to shatter their newfound happiness. He was leaving for a study abroad program in a week.
(To be continued...)
