As the day of the operation arrived, Kiara was consumed by nerves. She rehearsed her lines in the mirror, replaying possible scenarios over and over in her mind. Nothing felt natural. She changed outfits multiple times, hoping the perfect look might ease her anxiety. Finally, she settled on a casual yet polished look and took a deep breath. It was time.
The bar was dimly lit, just as she remembered. The familiar scent of wood and faint traces of spilled beer hit her as she walked in. She spotted Ethan almost immediately, sitting at the bar. His face lit up the moment he saw her. Kiara forced herself to smile warmly, her heart racing as she approached. “It’s been too long,” Ethan said, his voice tinged with what sounded like genuine affection.