Moments Under The Sun.

g Persp

ge's

through the glass doors, clutching a modest bouquet of daisies, I couldn't shake the nervousness bubbling in my chest.

rdworking manager of the healthcare organization, was someone I admired

d her room. A quick knock on the door a

pale but framed by her signature determination. H

d softly. "You di

he flowers on the table beside her bed. "These ar

it didn't quite reach her

o begin. The silence stretched for a moment befor

ickering across her tired face.

hought you were the most ar

d she gave a weak laugh. "Arroga

ly spoke to anyone, always walked with your head h

glint in her eyes. "And you tho

ything changed the day we bumped into e

e tried to recall. "Student co

't looking where I was going and ran straight into you, knocking your tray of food all over

fault," she said

e yelled at me or demanded I replace your food. Instead, you calmly s

said softly. "It wasn

isjudged you. You weren't arrogant; you were just quiet. An introvert who didn't feel the

lightly flushed. "I never kne

Over time, we became good friends. Maybe not close friends, but good

"It's true. We may not have been clos

ecome the manager of the healthcare organization

ther faint smile, but this

-

's

t quieter, emptier, though his

first time I'd heard that assumption about myself, but it still stung. I wasn't arrogant-I just preferred sol

time to understand me, even if it was years later. H

rning, with its sunlight and warmth, always brought a glimmer of hope. The

, it wasn't sunlight tha

d in dark gray clouds. The world outside seemed as weary as I

pain, the exhaustion, the endless battle against my own

he downpour. It was as if the heavens were she

ong time since I'd smiled like that with anyone other than Claire or Daniel. For a brief moment, I f

prayer for strength. A prayer for hope. A prayer to leave this hosp

and Encounte

niel'

ecing together stories. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy it; I did. It gave me a chance to learn about people, to

y colleague, walked up. She was clutching a noteboo

ly, brushing her dark curls away

ow, closing my la

iew we're supposed to

nning multiple cities. Known for his sharp mind and even sharper ton

cautiously. "W

nervously on her fe

u mean you

know I'll mess up. He's the kind of person who w

was good at her job but shy and sensitive-a dangero

"Alright,

ief. "Really? Thank you,

aid, grabbing my notepa

is reputation suggested, but I managed to get through it without losing my co

-

ing, I found my

the rich aroma of coffee, it was my favorite spot to unwind. As I settled into

coffee in front of her. She didn't notice me at first. I remember being struck by h

ance-a fleeting connection that lasted only a s

either of us did. But her image s

café, I wondered if she

my phone and

came through the line, lo

free?"

Always.

t me at t

e he always did. Ethan was the kind of friend

wn on the chair across from me. "You l

king too much,

missively. "Same th

I said. "How

e said, his grin widen

eyebrow. "

s differen

say that about ev

e's smart, funny, and gorgeous.

mused. "You've sai

time I mean it

and, of course, Ethan's new "the one." As we c

back to this café? Let me guess-it has

es. "You're im

in. "Come on, Nate. You can't fool me. You'r

, but Ethan's knowing look m

," I a

w it!" he

eal out of it," I s

for it," Ethan said, clapping me on the sho

ut his words stayed with

. Maybe it was time I

eded to see