Lila crashes through the front door or the cafe, the bell above the door tinkling to announce her arrival. She breathed in deeply, the smell coffee and taking up all her concentration as she tried to catch her breathe.

The only other patron in the small cafe, a teenager wearing a summer dress and trans pride socks had looked up after hearing the bell, and was now staring wide eyed at Lila, who, stood in the doorway of the small cafe half soaked from the rain, was much more intriguing than whatever essay the teenager was working on.

“Nice day for a wedding,” Lila smiles at the youngster, self consciously flattening her palms against her stomach, swallowing as her hands ran over the intricate lace and beads of her off-white dress.

“Oh!” Lila’s eyes shot to the wood counter of the cafe, the barista had risen from where she had been restocking the cupboards under the till and was now staring at her newest customer

“I’m sorry,” Lila, who had just now flown into the cafe with such purpose, couldn’t think of anything else to say. The moment the barista, Darcy, had come into view her knees felt week and the rain water seeping through the chiffon turned ice cold.

Darcy was silent, watching Lila shivering, her initial shock forgotten as she took in Lila’s dress.

“Darcy, I’m sorry,” Lila tried again, taking a deep breath she turned to Darcy again, when Darcy didn’t move or say anything, Lila pleaded, “Please, Darcy,”

“Pardon me, Mrs...” Darcy trailed off, smiling politely, “Ma’am, how can I help,”

“It’s Miss,” Lila said desperately, scurrying over to Darcy and reaching for her over the counter, “I didn’t, couldn’t,” Lila faltered as Darcy instinctively backed away, forever trying to guard herself emotionally.

“We have a new coffee blend,” Darcy tried again, swallowing as she edged forward, ready to spring back if Lila reached for her again

“Darcy!” Lila growled, “Please can we just talk, be reasonable!”

“Reasonable!?” Darcy’s eyes went wide, fists clenched as she closed the gap between her and the counter

“No, I didn’t mean that,” Lila screwed up her eyes and mashed her fists into them, her perfectly applied mascara long since run into a black mess on her cheeks, “I love you,” she whimpered, “And I know that I messed up, I know it’s not fair for me to be here like this, today, and I don’t expect you to hear me out or take me back but, I just need you to know that I love you, and above everything I’m so, sorry,”

“Lila,” Darcy’s face softened, she sighed and her hand twitched towards Lila’s for a brief second before she caught herself. “It’s too late for sorry,” Lila almost physically recoiled, feeling the words hit her chest, she hadn’t expected anything less, but it hurt nonetheless.

“I know,” Lila whispered when she felt that she could breathe again, she gave Darcy a watery smile and nodded, “I know,”