I took one look and knew she was the only one for me. A warm smile graced her lips as she watched her friends joke around. One of them nudged her shoulder as they spread their hands apart exaggeratedly. A giggle escaped her, and my heart couldn’t help but flutter at the sound. She seemed so perfect no matter the setting surrounding her.

I first talked to her when we were at the neighborhood café. The other seats were all full. She came over and lightly grasped the edge of the seat that had its back to the room, her fingers gracing the pages of the book I was looking at to attract my attention. I allowed my gaze to drift up, to see her staring at me. “Uh, would it be okay if I sat down here? The other seats are full and I just got my order…” Her voice trailed off with hesitance as she searched my eyes uncertainly.

She was talking to me? We never spoke before no matter the amount of times we crossed paths around town. My eyes flickered to the seat before looking up to her again, processing what she said before finally answering, “Oh! Of course, I don’t see a problem with it.” I waved slightly to the seat.

She plopped down into the seat with a thanks before gently pulling her pastry out while waiting for her coffee to cool. I couldn’t help but be slightly curious, closing my book slightly as I leaned forward so that I could look at what she had previously ordered. A smile graced her face as she pointed, “I got the jelly filled donut. I love the cherry filling they have here. It’s simply to die for.”

I rose an eyebrow as I peered at the donut “Is it really that good?” It seemed a bold statement to make. I never had ordered any of the pastries here. I was too busy trying to focus on my book to risk getting anything sticky on its pages. The pastries always seemed to find a way to leave their permanent stains on some part of me whenever I ordered them. I suppose the risk was never worth the reward in the end.

“Here, try a bite,” she pushed the donut towards me with that faint smile still on her face. I hesitated but who was I to turn down the offer. She seemed so sweet, offering to let me try her food. Carefully, I lifted the donut to my mouth, avoiding meeting her expectant gaze while taking a bite from the donut. Bits of the gooey red filling dripped down onto the table and I couldn’t help but be thankful my book had been relocated to the bench rather than directly in front of me where it would have been stained red. “So, how is it?” I looked up towards her as I chewed the bite, swiftly swallowing it so I could answer her question.

“It tastes good,” I answered. There was an almost bitter aftertaste in my mouth but I wasn’t going to tell her about the negative opinions I had towards the cherry flavoring that made my mouth feel startlingly dry. “I uh, I think I’m going to get some water. I’ll be right back,” I muttered. Carefully, I maneuvered my way out of the booth I sat in, heading up to the counter and asking for a bottle of water.

Why was my throat so scratchy? I subtly reached to rub my throat. Maybe I should get her another donut. Something about that one just seemed wrong. “Hey, could you by chance also add a cherry filled donut to that bottle of water order?” I questioned the barista politely.

They gave me a curious look, “What do you mean? We don’t sell jelly filled donuts here.” Their words made a rush of confusion cloud my mind as I rubbed my throat again. I wanted to speak but no words came out as they handed him the water. I quietly made my way back to the booth, slumping down into my seat from before.

“That was sweet of you. Nobody else has ever tried to give me a new donut. Almost makes me feel bad,” her gaze focused on my book, “Romeo and Juliet…a truly tragic tale, don’t you think?”

I searched her face before questioning quietly, “What did you do?” She pursed her lips as she flipped through the pages of the book. I watched as some of the jelly marked the pages and tried to protest, reaching to take the book from her hands.

“I never liked romance novels. Imagine being that reliant on someone else that you would die for them,” she sighed, ignoring my question. Slowly her gaze rose to meet mine, “I think the problem of your tale was that you kept your focus on someone you hadn’t even met.”

My vision blurred and my throat suddenly burned. I tried to reach for the water, desperately trying to douse the fires that filled my throat. She watched with a smile as my hand shook so harshly that I couldn’t bring the bottle of water to my lips. “You really shouldn’t have let me sit here,” she admitted, “It would’ve been safer for you to ignore me all together.” As I looked at her now, I knew she was right. Whatever was in that filling would be the death of me.

I couldn’t bring myself to respond, a silent scream tried to rip through my mouth and I noticed someone else staring at me. I couldn’t hear their panic as one of the baristas raced over. In their panic, they didn’t notice the girl vanish and I was unable to say anything as my throat burned red. The only thing I could taste was the hint of fiery cherry as their fires consumed me.