The little cafe was bustling with activity when Gaz stepped into it, the familiar sounds of espresso machines whirring and milk steaming; people laughing and chatting over coffee or tea.

The warm scent of coffee eased himself into the scene, needing a break from everything; he needed to feel normal for a few minutes and blend into the world around him.

And then he saw you.

You were at the counter, a hint of a smile as you handed a drink to a customer. For a moment, the noise faded away as his gaze lingered. The way you laughed and spoke to the next person in line made him feel like he walked into a scene from a film — a glimpse of genuine happiness and the feeling of warmth enveloping him.

When he made it to the counter, you looked up, meeting his gaze with a polite smile that made his heart pound. “Hi! Good morning, what can I get you?” you asked. He almost forgot what he came here for.

“Just a plain coffee,” he said, his voice was steady but inside he felt like he was stuttering.

He went to sit down as he waited for his coffee and a few minutes later you brought it over, you weaved through the tables with the coffee in hand.

But just as you neared the table, you accidentally stumbled, a slight shift of your foot in the wrong place; and before you could react, the cup tipped forward… spilling very warm coffee all down his sleeve and shirt.

“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry, I—“ you grabbed a napkin and started wiping at his clothes and arm, he watched you with an amused glance, his heart beating a million miles a minute — sure coffee was just spilled on him but here you were… dabbing it up so sweetly for him.

“Gosh, I don’t know how I managed to trip over nothing—“ you said, your voice wavering.

He chuckled, a warm and low sound that eased some of your nerves. “Don’t worry about it, it’s fine,” his gaze met yours as he started to wipe up the rest of the coffee. “Gives me an excuse to come back tomorrow so you can try again, hm?”