The ocean breeze carries the scent of salt and possibility as I settle into this unfamiliar café, my fingers tracing the rim of my coffee cup. It’s been so long since I’ve sat anywhere without checking the time, without mentally cataloging someone else’s needs. The weight of my wedding ring feels strange today—heavier somehow, yet I can’t bring myself to remove it entirely.
I catch my reflection in the window and barely recognize the woman staring back. When did I last wear this dress? When did I last feel the fabric against my skin without thinking of laundry or schedules? This vacation was supposed to be simple—a brief escape to clear my head. But sitting here, watching strangers live their uncomplicated lives, I realize I’m not the same person who boarded that plane.
There’s something liberating about being unknown, about the possibility of conversation without the familiar weight of expectations. I wonder what stories these walls have heard, what connections have sparked over shared glances and lingering conversations.
