Sophia

 The coffee shop was warm, its earthy aroma of freshly ground beans and baked goods wrapping around me like a comforting embrace. I picked a table in the far corner, away from the windows, where the shadows seemed to gather protectively. My phone lay on the table beside a steaming cup of coffee, untouched. My eyes kept darting to the door, waiting for her to arrive. I was on edge, my mind buzzing with a mix of anticipation and dread.