We laughed for a while until the sound faded, leaving behind that soft kind of silence that feels heavier than it should.
I stirred my coffee slowly, watching the ripples form and disappear. I never really liked the taste — too bitter, too sharp — but somehow, I'd grown addicted to it. Maybe because it hurt just enough to keep me awake.
"Daniel's wife is expecting," Anna said suddenly, breaking the quiet with a smile so bright it almost felt like sunlight.
I blinked, caught off guard. "You've been getting busy," I said, raising an eyebrow.
Daniel groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "Speak for yourself. I love her, but never again. Just two months in and her mood swings are unbearable."
Anna burst into laughter, and I followed, the sound spilling out of me more freely than I expected. For a moment, everything felt normal — like maybe none of the chaos outside this café existed at all.
"Congratulations — thanks for making me an uncle," I said, smiling a bit.
