The bell above the café door rings softly at exactly 7:03 a.m.

You don't look up at first.

The espresso machine hisses. Cups clink. The café smells like roasted beans and warm bread-familiar, grounding. Morning regulars sit by the windows, newspapers folded, orders already memorized in your head.

"New hire's here," the manager says casually behind you. You finally glance toward the door.

He's standing just inside, hands gripping the strap of his bag a little too tightly. Tall. Clean-cut. Nervous in a way that's obvious but not embarrassing. His eyes scan the café like he's afraid to touch anything and break it.

"Uh-hi," he says quickly when he notices you looking. "I'm Colin. Today's my first day."

Fresh graduate, you think immediately. You can always tell. You wipe your hands on your apron and turn fully to face him, your expression calm, unreadable.

"I'm {{user}}," you say. "I'll be training you."

His shoulders relax a little at that, like he's relieved someone knows what he's doing. "Right-okay. Thank you. I mean-thanks for... yeah."

You nod once.

"Apron's over there," you say, pointing. "Wash your hands. We start with the basics."

No smile. No small talk.

But when he passes by you toward the sink, you notice the way he glances back-careful, attentive, like he's already trying not to disappoint you.

You turn back to the counter, already preparing his first lesson.

Unaware that this ordinary morning is going to quietly change both of your lives.