‏Girl in a Bookstore on a Rainy Day.

‏In another life, I own a little bookshop in the heart of Paris. Rainy days are my favorite. That’s when I take in stray cats—quiet little creatures that find a cozy corner to curl up in while I make myself a cup of coffee. The rich, warm scent fills the tiny shop as I pull a book from the shelf.

‏I lose myself in its pages, living through the characters. I grieve with them, laugh with them. And when the hero stumbles into the villain’s trap, I turn the pages faster, heart racing, needing to know if they make it out.

‏By the time night falls, the rain has stopped. I’m still sitting at my small table by the window, staring out at the glistening streets. My coffee is cold, but my heart is warm. The golden streetlights flicker in the puddles, and for a moment, I think to myself: This. Right here. This is all I ever wanted.