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By the River
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By the River

5 chapters • 0 views
6:47 PM
1
Chapter 1 of 5

6:47 PM

Maya’s fingers are cold around her coffee cup, but her cheeks are burning. Daniel’s eyes—hazel, flecked with green in the café light—haven’t left her face since he sat down. When he tells her she’s beautiful, the words don’t feel like a line; they feel like a key turning in a lock she didn’t know she’d closed. Her breath catches, and a slow, real smile breaks over her face, mirroring his own. The nervous static in her veins melts into a pure, warm current.

Maya stood in front of her mirror at 6:47 PM and asked herself, for the fifth time, why did I agree to this?

Her phone screen lit up. A message from her best friend Sofia: "Stop overthinking. Go. You look amazing."

Maya smiled at that. Then immediately started overthinking again.

She had seen Daniel's photos. She had read his messages — thoughtful, a little funny, never trying too hard. She liked that. But photos were photos, and messages were messages. Real life was something else entirely.

Outside, the October air was cool and smelled like wet leaves. She walked slowly, telling herself it was because her shoes were new. It wasn't because of the shoes.


6:47 PM - By the River | NovelX