Tiana didn't plan it.
That was the surprising part.
She just… got dressed.
No long thinking.
No "should I or shouldn't I."
She picked a simple outfit, stood in front of the mirror for a second—
Then grabbed her bag.
And left.
Halfway down the road, she paused.
"Where am I even going?"
That question felt important.
Before, she always had a reason.
Meeting someone.
Waiting for someone.
Talking to someone.
Now?
She was just… outside.
Tiana looked around.
People moving.
Cars passing.
Life continuing.
It felt strange.
Like she had stepped into something she hadn't noticed in a long time.
She spotted a small café across the street.
Nothing fancy.
Just quiet.
"Okay," she muttered.
And walked in.
The bell above the door rang softly.
A few people glanced up.
Then went back to whatever they were doing.
Tiana hesitated for a second.
Then walked to the counter.
"Hi, what would you like?"
She froze.
Because suddenly—
This felt like a test she didn't prepare for.
"Um…"
Her mind went blank.
The lady behind the counter waited patiently.
Tiana blinked.
"…What do people usually order?" she asked.
The woman smiled slightly.
"Coffee?"
"Right. Yes. That."
A small pause.
"What kind?"
Tiana stared.
There were kinds?
"…The normal one," she said.
The woman tried not to laugh.
"Okay," she said gently. "I'll get you something simple."
Tiana nodded quickly.
Relieved.
She paid and moved to the side.
"That was stressful," she muttered under her breath.
A voice beside her responded immediately.
"First time?"
Tiana turned.
A girl about her age stood there, holding her drink.
"…Is it that obvious?" Tiana asked.
The girl smiled.
"You asked for 'the normal one.'"
Tiana sighed.
"I panicked."
"That happens," the girl shrugged.
"Coffee menus are unnecessarily complicated."
Tiana let out a small laugh.
"I'm Tiana," she said.
"Lena," the girl replied.
They stood in a brief, comfortable silence.
Not awkward.
Just… neutral.
And that felt new.
When Tiana got her drink, she sat by the window.
She stared at it for a moment.
Took a sip.
Then immediately made a face.
"…People enjoy this?"
From across the room, Lena raised her cup.
"You get used to it."
Tiana shook her head.
"Or maybe I won't," she muttered.
She set the cup down and looked outside.
Cars moved.
People passed.
Nothing special.
But for some reason—
She stayed.
No phone.
No distraction.
Just sitting.
A few minutes passed.
Then more.
And something shifted.
Not big.
Not loud.
But noticeable.
She wasn't thinking about him.
Not actively.
Not painfully.
He just… didn't come up.
Tiana blinked slightly.
That was new.
She leaned back in her chair.
Letting that realization settle.
It didn't mean she was over it.
She knew that.
But it meant something else.
Her world was starting to expand again.
Even if it was just a café.
Even if it was just bad coffee.
Even if it was just… this moment.
Tiana picked up the cup again.
Took another sip.
Paused.
"…It's still bad," she whispered.
Lena laughed from across the room.
And Tiana smiled.
Not because everything was okay.
But because something was beginning.