It all started on a rainy day in Belfast, Northern Ireland where Irene was working as a server at a local café in the urban area of Belfast.
The rain hadn't stopped in two days.
Irene wiped her hands on her apron, staring blankly at the empty café door as the wind howled outside. Belfast was always cold… but today felt different.
Heavier.
Like something was about to change.
"Irene, table six!" her manager snapped.
She forced a smile as always, even though her feet ached and her patience had long run out.
She hated this job.
Hated the fake smiles, the rude customers, the way her small paycheck disappeared before the month even began.
But quitting?
That wasn't an option. Not when bills were piling up and her life felt like it was slowly falling apart.
She had no one to rely on. No family. No safety net. No sponsor.
She had grown up alone as an orphan... and she was still alone.
So she stayed.
Barely surviving.
Barely holding on.
Until the café door opened…
And he walked in.
Irene didn't know why her eyes lifted this time.
Maybe it was the way the cold air rushed in behind him.
Or the sudden silence that seemed to follow.
He stepped inside slowly, calmly, shrugging off the rain like it didn't belong to him.
Tall, very tall.
At least 6'5. Dark Hair. Dark coat. Sharp brown eyes that missed nothing. The kind of presence that didn't ask for attention… but took it anyway.
Irene looked away quickly, her heart suddenly beating strangely and unevenly in her chest.
Just another customer, she told herself while breathing a sigh of relief.
"Table six, Irene!" her manager shouted again.
"I'm on it" she replied grabbing the tray.
She forced her focus back where it belonged trying to ignore the strange feeling creeping up her spine.
But even as she walked away…
She could still feel it.
That feeling.
Like someone was watching her.
"Coffee," a low voice said behind her.
Irene turned slightly.
"Black. Two sugars. Cream."
She nodded quickly. "Got it."
She didn't look at him again.
But somehow…
She knew he was still watching.
His order got ready and Irene delivered it to him on table 8 on the aisle seat near the window. "That'll be 2 pounds" she said. He shifted his coat and pulled out a 20-pound note, put it on the table and added " keep the change".
Irene blinked, slightly taken aback and appearing to be nervous.
"That's… too much" she said, hesitating.
He didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his eyes finally meeting hers.
And this time… he didn't look away.
"I know," he said quietly.
Something about the way he said it made her stomach tighten.
"You look nervous," he said.
Irene swallowed. "I'm not."
The corner of his lips lifted slightly.
"You are." he said again.
Her grip tightened around the tray.
He tilted his head, studying her like he was trying to figure something out.
"You shouldn't be," he added quietly.
Irene forced a small nod and turned to leave.
"Irene."
She froze.
Slowly… she turned back.