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 her that way. Taking a nervous breath, she moved closer.

“Excuse me,” she began, her voice barely above the background hum, “what are you reading?” Liam hesitated, his fingers resting lightly on the dog-eared pages. “It’s ‘The Shadow of the Wind’ by Carlos Ruiz Zafón,” he said softly, the fondness in his voice clear. “It’s about a boy in postwar Barcelona who discovers a mysterious book—one that changes his life. The city becomes a maze, full of secrets and haunted memories, as he searches for the truth behind the book’s author.” He looked at Emma, his eyes brightening. “There’s a place in the story called the Cemetery of Forgotten Books—a hidden library where lost stories wait to be found. I’ve always loved the idea that somewhere, the stories we lose or forget might still be waiting for us to rediscover them.” She smiled, tucking a damp strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ve been out looking for a birthday gift for my brother and chose the first edition of ‘The Shadow of the Wind' for my adventurous brother.” They both laughed.

I read it years ago. I remember wishing I could walk those mysterious Barcelona streets," Emma said, her cheeks blushing slightly.

“Liam,” he said, offering his hand.

“And you are?”

“Emma.”

They shook hands, their fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary. Emma sat down, uninvited but not unwelcome, and their conversation began to unfold between them.

“I always wonder,” Emma admitted, tracing the rim of her mug, “if people who love books are searching for something in real life—some lost secret, or someone who understands.”

Liam hesitated, a shadow passing across his face.

Maybe we’re just looking for a story that feels like ours.

Their words traveled through novels, cities they longed to visit, and music that shaped their childhoods. With every truth spoken, another remained unsaid. Sometimes, their eyes would meet and hold, the silence between them carrying a weight neither dared to acknowledge.

 

Emma almost asked, "Why are you here alone?" but stopped, the question catching in her throat. Liam nearly said, "Stay a little longer," but swallowed his words, unsure if he had the right. As the afternoon faded, the shop emptied out, and dusk cast golden streaks over Paris. Emma glanced at her phone; it was later than she thought. “I should go,” she said softly. Liam took a deep breath and asked, “May I walk you home?” She nodded, and together they stepped into the quiet, rain-swept streets. Their laughter echoed beneath the streetlights, but with each step, Emma wondered if she should slip her hand into his or say something that might change the course of their story.

She didn’t.

Liam walked beside her, wanting to remember how her eyes reflected the city lights but afraid to hope for more. Outside Emma’s doorway, they paused. “Thank you for today,” he said, his voice heavy with unspoken feelings. Emma hesitated, studying his face, the words “Let’s do this again” trembling on her lips. Instead, she offered a gentle, final smile. “Take care, Liam.” He nodded, and for a moment, it felt like the world held its breath. But neither moved closer nor reached out.

As she watched him disappear into the rain, Emma wondered whether two souls could meet at just the right moment and still not belong together.

Liam, walking away, felt the ache of possibility, the kind that exists in the spaces between words, in glances left unacknowledged, in a goodbye that could have been a new beginning.

Sometimes, the strongest bonds are the ones we hesitate to explore. Emma and Liam went back to their routines, holding onto the memory of that rainy afternoon, a moment shaped by chance, with many words left unspoken and the lasting truth that love, once found, never really disappears.