A Twist in the Routine

The soft chime of the bell rang out as Kai waved goodbye to his last evening customer, watching as the door swung shut. The café felt especially warm and inviting in the dim evening light, but Kai felt a hint of weariness. Today had been a busy day, filled with familiar faces and a few new ones who had stumbled upon his humble little shop.

With a sigh, he began the closing routine, wiping down the tables, tidying up the counter, and carefully placing each chair in its rightful spot. It was a ritual he enjoyed, one that brought him a sense of satisfaction.

As he finished up, he realized he hadn't had a proper meal since breakfast. His stomach rumbled, reminding him that coffee could only sustain him so long. He decided he'd make a quick stop by the convenience store to pick up some food before heading home. It was a simple errand, one he'd done countless times before, but tonight, he felt a lingering unease he couldn't quite shake.

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The convenience store was just a few blocks down, tucked away between a bookstore and an old repair shop. The streets were quiet at this hour, illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights. Kai wandered through the aisles, grabbing a few instant meals, some snacks, and a couple of ingredients he could use to prepare something more satisfying when he had the time.

As he approached the counter, he noticed a familiar face waiting in line ahead of him. She was the woman who often visited his café—a regular with a love for caramel lattes and a quiet demeanor. Tonight, though, she looked different, almost lost, her eyes cast down as if her mind was somewhere else entirely.

Kai debated for a moment, then decided to speak up. "Hey, didn't expect to see you here," he said casually, giving her a friendly nod.

She looked up, a little startled, before recognition softened her expression. "Oh, Kai! Hi! I was just picking up a few things. Didn't want to go home yet," she admitted with a small smile.

There was a pause, a moment of shared understanding between them. "Long day?" he asked, his voice gentle.

She nodded, and for a brief second, Kai thought she looked like she was about to say something more. But she only shook her head, her smile tinged with a hint of sadness. "Yeah… just one of those days, I suppose."

They finished their purchases and walked out of the store together, their steps falling into an unspoken rhythm as they made their way down the dimly lit street. The silence between them was comfortable, filled with the quiet sounds of the city around them.

Then, as they reached a particularly dark stretch of road, the silence was shattered by the sound of an engine revving. Kai turned just in time to see the headlights of a speeding truck barreling down the road toward them. His heart pounded, instincts taking over in an instant.

Without a second thought, he reached out, grabbing the woman's arm and pulling her to the side, but the truck veered, its headlights blinding him. There was no time to react further, no way to avoid the inevitable impact.

"Kai!" she cried, her voice filled with shock and terror.

As the truck closed in, time seemed to slow. Kai could feel his heart racing, his mind flooded with thoughts he could barely process. All he could think about was the dream he'd yet to fulfill, the café he'd built from the ground up, and the life he'd created for himself. In that split second, regret surged through him—not because he was afraid, but because he hadn't accomplished all that he'd set out to do.

"I'm not… done yet," he thought, a sense of longing and unfinished dreams washing over him.

And then, everything went black.

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