Two Different Realms

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**Chapter 1: Reunion**

The bell above the café door tinkled softly as Emily stepped inside, greeted by the comforting scent of freshly ground coffee beans and the soft murmur of conversation. She scanned the room, her heart fluttering with anticipation, searching for a familiar face amidst the sea of strangers.

And then she saw him.

James sat at a corner table by the window, bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sunlight. He was engrossed in a newspaper, his brow furrowed in concentration, his lips moving silently as he read. He looked just as she remembered him, with his dark hair tousled and a faint stubble lining his jaw.

Emily's breath caught in her throat as she approached him, her pulse quickening with each step. She felt a rush of emotions flood through her—excitement, nervousness, and a twinge of something she couldn't quite identify.

"James?" she called out softly as she reached his table, her voice barely above a whisper.

James looked up, his eyes widening in surprise. For a moment, there was a flicker of confusion in his gaze, as though he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. Then, recognition dawned, and a smile spread across his face, lighting up his features.