The subway train rumbled through the tunnel, emitting a steady hum. Claire leaned against the cold train door, watching the darkness rush by outside the window, the faint glow of her phone screen reflecting off her slightly weary face.
At the top of the screen, an unsent text message lay quietly in the input field:
“Hey Arthur, I saw the new coffee shop near your office today. It made me think of you. Hope you’re doing well.”
She stared at those words for a long time. Arthur. That name was like a small pebble gently tossed into the calm lake of her heart, sending out a faint ripple. They had once been very good friends, but later, due to some inexplicable misunderstandings and pride, they gradually lost touch. Now, he was on the other side of the city, living a life parallel to hers.
Claire’s finger hovered over the send button. What would happen if she sent it? Maybe he’d reply politely, maybe he’d find it abrupt, maybe… nothing at all would happen. This uncertainty made her feel a twinge of timidity. She recalled the last time they’d met, when Arthur was wearing the gray sweater she’d given him and had smiled at her, saying, “Next time, I’ll treat you to coffee.”
But that “next time” never came.
The subway’s arrival chime rang out abruptly, interrupting her train of thought. The doors opened, and a wave of air—a mix of perfume and coffee—swept in. Claire took a deep breath, pressed the delete button with a slight squeeze of her thumb.
The message vanished instantly, as if it had never existed.
She put her phone away and followed the crowd out of the subway station. The sunlight outside was a bit blinding; she squinted and looked up at the sky. It was a pure blue, without a single cloud.
Walking to the café on the corner where she often went, she pushed the door open out of habit. Just after ordering an Americano, she turned around and nearly bumped into a familiar figure.
“Claire?”
It was Arthur. He was holding a book and wearing that gray sweater; he looked a bit more mature than she remembered, but his smile was still just as warm.
“Arthur, what a coincidence,” Claire said, a little surprised, her heart skipping a beat.
“Yeah, what a coincidence,” Arthur smiled, his gaze falling on the coffee cup in her hand. “Same as always—an Americano, no sugar?”
Claire nodded, a smile spreading across her face without her realizing it. “You haven’t changed either—you always like to sit by the window when you’re reading.”
They exchanged a smile, and the air was filled with a long-lost sense of ease and understanding.
“Want to sit down for a bit?” Arthur pointed to the empty seat next to him. “I was just looking for someone to talk to about the book I’ve been reading lately.”
Claire hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Sure.”
She sat down and watched the passersby outside the window. Suddenly, she realized that some things might not need to be confirmed with a text message. Life always has a way of bringing unexpected reunions at some unplanned corner.
She picked up her coffee and took a gentle sip. The bitterness carried a hint of sweetness—just like her mood at that moment.
