The apartment felt colder than usual, though the heater hummed softly in the background. Nicole McGraw sat curled up on the couch, clutching a blanket around her shoulders. Tears streaked her cheeks, and her phone lay abandoned on the coffee table, still glowing with Michael's last message: I can't do this anymore.
She had tried to keep herself busy emails, books, even baking but nothing could chase away the ache in her chest. Summer had been warm, bright, and full of dreams. Now, autumn had passed, and winter loomed, dragging her into darkness she hadn't expected.
Michelle called twice, leaving frantic voicemails. Kai had stopped by yesterday, trying to talk sense into her. "Nicole, you can't let him define your life. You have to move on," he said, looking at her with calm concern.
Move on. The words sounded impossible. She had no energy to move, no desire to leave the apartment.
---
A Decision to Step Out
But today, for reasons she couldn't fully explain, Nicole pulled on her coat, wrapped a scarf tightly around her neck, and stepped outside. Maybe the crisp winter air would clear her mind. Maybe walking through the quiet streets of the city would remind her she could still breathe.
The wind was biting, but Nicole welcomed it, letting it sting her cheeks and distract her from the emptiness in her chest. She walked without a plan, letting her feet carry her, until she found herself in front of the small, quaint bookstore she had passed countless times but never entered.
"Maybe…" she whispered to herself, "a book might help."
---
The Argument
Nicole stepped inside, shaking off snow from her coat. The warmth of the shop wrapped around her, and the smell of old books and coffee brought a small comfort. She wandered down the aisles, fingers brushing over worn spines, until she reached the new releases section.
Just as she reached for a book, another hand grabbed it at the same time.
"Oh! Sorry!" Nicole said, withdrawing slightly.
The other person, a tall man with dark hair and sharp features, glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. "Hmm," he said, his voice slightly amused. "You're in a rush, aren't you?"
Nicole frowned. "Excuse me?"
"You, rushing in like that, grabbing books without care. Rude blond little girl," he said, smirking.
Nicole's eyes widened. "I… I'm not"
"You're very rude, you know," he interrupted, stepping back with an exaggerated bow.
Nicole's face flushed, partly with embarrassment, partly with irritation. "I'm just trying to look at a book! You don't have to insult me."
"Ah, but I can," he said, leaning casually against the shelf. "It's the little things that teach lessons, blondie."
Nicole crossed her arms. "You know, I don't need a lecture from a stranger."
"Stranger?" he raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I like that. Keeps it formal. But seriously, you need to watch your manners."
Nicole glared. "Well, maybe you should mind your own business."
For a moment, they just stared at each other,the tension palpable. Then the man chuckled lightly, a sound that grated at her nerves even as it made her heart flutter in an unfamiliar way.
Nicole turned, muttering under her breath, and grabbed another book, but she couldn't shake the feeling of his eyes on her back.
---
Aftermath
She left the bookstore in a flurry, snow crunching beneath her boots. Her heart was still heavy with Michael's absence, but the stranger's words where rude as they were , ignited something unexpected: irritation… curiosity… and a small spark of life.
Nicole shook her head. Who even says something like that to a stranger? she wondered. But deep down, she had to admit: there was something about him she couldn't forget.
That strange encounter would linger in her mind far longer than the sting of her tears and she didn't yet know it, but this "rude blond little girl" comment was the first step toward a new beginning she never imagined.