A Chance Encounter
By Theodora Filis ‘If we were meant to be forever, where souls are nurtured, I would find you in my next life. You came when I needed you, and you left when you needed to. Our hearts were never meant to fully unite, only briefly collide and ignite so we could move on to our next chapter knowing we were not alone.” - Unknown After wandering the streets of Paris looking for a birthday gift for her brother, Emma slipped into a quiet coffee shop, her cheeks still flushed from the cold February wind. The bell softly chimed as she shook raindrops off her coat and looked around the cozy, lamplit room. In the far corner, she saw a man—his silhouette against the steamy window, with his head bent over a thick novel. Their eyes briefly met. Emma gave a tentative smile, and he responded—quick, genuine, then gone. She picked a nearby table, her heart beating a little faster for reasons she couldn’t explain. When her coffee arrived, Emma caught herself glancing over, curiosity pulling he...
