Chapter 04: Beneath the Surface
The next morning arrived with the usual bustle of the café. Kiera was behind the counter, grinding beans and steaming milk, her movements automatic, but her mind was far from routine. The previous evening lingered in her thoughts, a sweet taste of something undefined, something impossible, that she couldn’t shake. The traveler, his words, his eyes—everything about him felt like a riddle waiting to be solved.
She had told herself that she’d treat him like any other customer. He was just another soul passing through the galaxy, like the countless others who stopped in for a drink, exchanged a few pleasantries, and moved on with their lives. But there was something about him that set him apart, something about the way he looked at her, the way he spoke that made her feel like she wasn’t just part of the scenery in his life—like she mattered.
As the café filled with the usual crowd of early morning travelers, Kiera found herself glancing toward the door every now and then, half-expecting to see him walk through it. She hadn’t told him where she worked, so he couldn’t possibly know she’d be here. Yet, her heart raced whenever the bell chimed, as if she were waiting for something—or someone—to appear.
By midmorning, Kiera had made her peace with the fact that he might not show up again. After all, there were plenty of other coffee shops across the galaxy. He could have found one that was closer to where his ship was parked, one that didn’t have the same lingering promise of something more. She sighed softly as she wiped down the counter, trying to focus on the task at hand.
That was when she heard the unmistakable chime of the door.
She looked up, a jolt of surprise flooding through her veins. There he was, standing in the doorway as if he had been waiting for the exact moment her thoughts had turned to him. He caught her eye, a knowing smile playing on his lips. It was as if he could read her mind.
“Thought you might be waiting for me,” he said, his voice smooth like the coffee she so carefully prepared.
Kiera couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. “I wasn’t waiting,” she said, though it was clear that she had been. “But it’s nice to see you again.”
He walked in, the soft whirr of the café machines filling the space between them as he took his usual seat by the window. There was something familiar in the way he carried himself, something that felt… timeless. He seemed to belong here, in this little corner of the galaxy, even though Kiera knew his presence was anything but ordinary.
As she prepared his coffee, she found herself thinking about what had happened the night before—the way they had spoken, the intensity of their conversation. There was a connection between them, something deep and unspoken, that she couldn’t quite define. She had to know more.
She placed the cup of coffee in front of him, taking a moment to admire the way the steam swirled above the cup, dancing in the light. “What brings you back so soon?” she asked, trying to sound casual, though her curiosity was evident.
He took a sip, his gaze never leaving her face. “I wanted to see if the universe has more to show me,” he said, the words carrying a weight that seemed out of place for something so simple. “And maybe… to see if it has more to show you, too.”
Kiera paused, her heart skipping a beat. There was something about the way he said it, something that made her feel like he wasn’t just talking about coffee anymore. He was talking about something deeper, something that was still unraveling between them. She could feel it, like a tug on her chest, pulling her toward him.
“More to show me?” she repeated, her voice soft.
He leaned forward, his hands clasped around the cup. “You have a way of making everything feel… significant. Like every moment is part of something bigger. I’ve been to many places, met many people, but I’ve never felt this way before. As if the pieces are starting to come together, like the stars are finally aligned.”
Kiera’s heart raced. She wasn’t sure if he was speaking metaphorically or if there was something more at play, but it felt like he was offering her a glimpse into something she hadn’t dared to dream about.
“What do you mean?” she asked, unable to keep the curiosity from her voice.
He smiled again, that familiar, enigmatic smile. “I mean, Kiera, that this coffee… this moment… might be a part of something greater. Something that neither of us can fully understand yet, but we’re both part of it, whether we know it or not.”
Her breath caught in her throat. It was the way he spoke—like everything had meaning, like nothing was by chance. And yet, for all his mystery, there was a warmth in his presence, an openness that made her feel like she could trust him, even if she didn’t fully understand what was happening between them.
“You talk like you know something I don’t,” she said, her voice a whisper.
He chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with an amused sort of wisdom. “Maybe I do. But I think you know more than you realize. You just haven’t had the right person to help you see it yet.”
Kiera couldn’t help but smile at his words, even though they left her with more questions than answers. Who was this man? And what was it about him that made her feel like she was standing at the edge of something she couldn’t yet name?
The door chimed again, and the moment between them seemed to stretch, as if time itself was holding its breath. Kiera glanced toward the door, and for a moment, she almost wished she hadn’t—because the next customer was a familiar face: her old friend, Iris, a regular at the café. But the interruption was brief, and soon Iris had settled into the corner with her usual order, leaving Kiera and the traveler alone once more.
“You were saying?” Kiera prompted, her curiosity piqued.
He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the distant stars through the café window. “I think you’re meant for something bigger, Kiera. And maybe… just maybe, I’m meant to help you find it.”
The words hung in the air, heavy with possibility. Kiera felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. Could this man, this mysterious traveler, really be the key to unlocking something she hadn’t even known she was searching for?
She didn’t know the answer, but in that moment, with the hum of the café around them and the stars shining above, she was willing to find out.
