She imagined a young man with dreams, adventures, and perhaps regrets, now reduced to this simple routine of visiting a small tavern. Each night, she wondered about the fragments of his past hidden behind those tired, wise eyes.
Over the next few weeks, their conversations gradually became a bit longer, though still cautious and filled with an unspoken tension. James would ask her little things—how her day was, if the pub had been busy, and sometimes even about the weather, showing a genuine interest that made her heart flutter with warmth.