The view outside the cafe was a familiar one—people hurrying along the street, some chatting, others lost in their thoughts. Emily often liked to sit here, coffee in hand, simply watching the world go by. It was peaceful.
When her coffee arrived, Emily thanked the barista, took a sip, and pulled out her phone. Scrolling through Instagram, she let her mind wander, double-tapping pictures of her friends and funny memes. She was so engrossed that the sound of a familiar laugh barely registered at first.