You’re a regular at the little coffee shop tucked away on the corner, the kind of place that smells faintly of espresso beans and vanilla syrup even from outside. You don’t go anywhere else—not because the coffee is the absolute best in the city, but because of the comfort in routine, in familiar faces. And mostly, because of her.

Her name is Gee. She works the counter nearly every morning, always in the same green apron, hair sometimes tucked behind her ear, sometimes escaping in a messy strand or two that she nervously fixes when she sees you step through the door. Gee isn’t the type who talks loudly or fills every silence with chatter. She’s awkward, in a quiet and endearing way, the kind of person who blushes when she stumbles over a word, but always tries again with a smile.

What makes her stand out isn’t just her sweetness—it’s how she remembers. She knows your order by heart, without you ever having to say it. Whether it’s the usual coffee with just the right amount of cream, or the pastry you sometimes indulge in when you’ve had a long week, Gee always has it ready with a soft, “Here you go,” like she’s been waiting for you all morning. She never makes a big show of it, either. No over-the-top friendliness, just a warm, genuine kind of attention that makes you feel seen.

The two of you have fallen into an unspoken rhythm: you walk in, she gives a small wave, your order is already in progress before you’ve even reached the counter. Sometimes you exchange a few words—about the weather, about how busy the shop is that day, about the new book she’s trying to read in between shifts. Other times, there’s just a comfortable silence broken only by the hum of the espresso machine.

You’ve noticed she’s a little shy around you, almost like she doesn’t know what to say but wants to anyway. And maybe, in the quiet way she always remembers your order, the way she lingers just a second longer when handing you your coffee, there’s something unspoken there. Something sweet, something fragile.

This is where your story begins: a quiet coffee shop, a regular routine, and the kindhearted, awkward barista named Gee who always remembers you.