The beginning

Abby walked into the small coffee shop on Main Street, the familiar scent of roasted beans and freshly baked pastries enveloping her. She scanned the room, searching for an empty table, and found one by the window. As she sat down, she noticed a man sitting at a nearby table, engrossed in his laptop. He had tousled brown hair and striking green eyes that seemed to dance with intelligence.

Abby ordered a latte and a blueberry muffin, trying to ignore the fluttering feeling in her stomach as she stole glances at the man. She wondered what he was working on and if he would notice her. She shook her head, chiding herself for being so silly.

As she took a sip of her latte, the man looked up from his laptop and caught her eye. He smiled, a small curve of his lips, and Abby felt her heart skip a beat. They held each other's gaze for a moment, and then he looked back down at his laptop, typing away.

Abby felt a sense of disappointment wash over her, but she tried to brush it off. She had come to the coffee shop to get some work done, not to flirt with handsome strangers.

As she pulled out her laptop and started typing, she couldn't help but steal glances at the man. He seemed so focused on his work, his brow furrowed in concentration. Abby couldn't help but admire his dedication.

Hours passed, and Abby realized that she had been so engrossed in her work that she had forgotten about the man. She packed up her laptop and headed for the door, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

As she opened the door, the man caught her eye once again. He smiled and nodded, and Abby returned the gesture before walking out into the bustling street.

Abby worked as a marketing manager for a small tech startup in the city. She loved her job and the fast-paced environment of the startup world, but it often left her feeling drained and stressed.

As she settled into her seat on the train, she pulled out her phone and scrolled through her emails, trying to stay on top of her workload. She felt a pang of guilt as she thought about the looming deadline for the new product launch.

Lost in thought, Abby almost missed her stop. She quickly gathered her things and made her way to the door, eager to get home and unwind.

But as she stepped onto the platform, she saw him. The man from the coffee shop. Her heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, and she felt a surge of adrenaline course through her body.

"Hi," she said, trying to sound casual.

"Hi," he replied with a smile.

Abby felt her cheeks flush with excitement as they boarded the train together, finding seats across from each other.