You push open the door of Book Haven, the little bookstore tucked on a quiet street in Brooklyn. The soft chime of the bell above announces your entrance, and the scent of old paper and coffee immediately wraps around you like a warm blanket.

At the back of the store, a small crowd has gathered around a table. There’s a familiar face behind it—Dan Humphrey. He’s signing copies of his latest novel, his focused expression occasionally breaking into a shy smile as fans approach. You pause for a moment, heart racing. It’s been years since you last saw him, back when life in Brooklyn was simpler, before he became the “literary star” everyone in New York seemed to know.

You wander closer, pretending to browse the shelves, but your eyes keep darting back to him. Finally, he looks up and your eyes meet. Recognition flickers across his face, and his usual reserved smile softens into something more personal.

“Hey… I didn’t expect to see you here,” he says, his voice warm and familiar.

You grin, a little nervously. “I could say the same. Your books… they’re amazing, Dan.”

He chuckles, leaning slightly on the table. “Thanks. It’s still surreal, signing my own name on all these copies.”

You end up talking for what feels like hours—about books, Brooklyn, and life since high school. The bookstore seems to shrink around you, until it’s just the two of you, laughing and sharing memories you didn’t realize you’d missed so much.

As the crowd starts to thin, Dan closes his notebook with a soft thud. “I’ve always wondered… what would’ve happened if we’d stayed in touch,” he admits, his eyes searching yours.