“Renee, right? You’re Renee Waters.” Glancing up from her novel, Renee glanced up at the stranger staring at her. “Wow, I can’t believe this!” He grabbed the metal pole for balance as the bus came to another stop. The seat beside her was empty, and she hoped that her purse sitting there would deter him from asking to sit beside her. Her stop was a few blocks away and she was so close to making it through the entire ride unnoticed. Setting her book on her lap, she nodded. She had spent years living in her famous psychic grandmother’s shadow, continuously asked the same repetitive questions. Did she too have the gift? Was it genetic? Did she feel that she had a roadmap on how to live her life? The stranger sat on the edge of the empty seat, careful not to sit on her handbag. He smelled like a rainwater, and it helped mask the smell of all the litter on the ground. “I’m Denver Adams.” He extended his hand. His hand was rough, and his fingertips cold. He seemed nervous, and without wasting time, she began to answer the questions she had grown so accustomed to. “No, I don’t have the gift. It’s not genetic, and no I don’t believe that I –“ Denver put his hand up, stopping her. “I came to tell you that I’m sorry.” He was apologizing? To her? “Why?” She asked. “Because you’re living in the shadow of a famous celebrity, and I know how depressing that can feel. We have that in common.” Denver, she learned, was the son of a famous country singer. “I do have one question to ask.” He kept his head low, staring at the litter on the floor. “And what’s that?” She asked. “Do you believe in fate? Or coincidences? It’s public knowledge that you don’t believe in psychic readings,” Renee shot him a look and he threw his hands up in defense. “Not that that’s a bad thing. I don’t believe in them either. But psychic readings and fate and coincidences are all different. Don’t you think?” Renee pondered for a moment before shaking her head. “I don’t know about that. I believe we’re all responsible for our own choices in this life.” With the bus slowing, Renee gathered her purse and coat, moving past Denver towards the sliding door. “This is my stop.” She gave him one final wave. “We’ll finish this conversation later!” he called out. The following days were spent pondering Denver’s words. It had been years that she felt seen for who she was, rather than who she was supposed to be. Something else had stuck out to her – his confidence. We’ll finish this conversation later, he’d said. Was he being cocky? He didn’t strike her as the type, but she couldn’t be sure anymore. Returning to her hotel room, she took a quick glance at her phone. She had some time before her taxi would arrive to take her to the airport, and she needed caffeine. Hundreds crowded against her as she made her way towards the nearest coffee shop. Her phone had provided her with an infinite list, each shop with a crazier name than the last. With only wanting a black coffee, she picked the first one off the list. Inside The Crazy Bean, Renee was welcomed with the warm aroma of coffee, mixed with a subtle note of balsam from a candle sitting on the front counter. Stepping behind a woman with two toddlers in her arms, she watched the children go from playing to screaming and crying before her eyes. “Sorry,” the mother mouthed. Renee waved away the apology. Turning her attention to the chalkboard mounted against the wall, every option seemed far tastier than her simple black coffee. “All these options, how is anyone expected to make a choice?” “I know, I’m starting to question my own coffee –“ her words stopped when she turned and saw Denver standing behind her. He gave her a thin-lipped smile. “Hi stranger.” Renee bit her lip, her attempt to keep from smiling. She didn’t believe in fate and she didn’t believe in coincidences either. But she was wondering what it was about him that kept ruminating inside her mind from the bus ride a few days earlier. With a second register opening, the line began to speed up. She could make small talk for a few minutes. It was only a few minutes, and then they’d be separated again. “What brings you here?” she asked. He knit his brows together, clearly finding her question funny. “It’s not obvious?” Duh. Of course. What a stupid question. “I meant, what are you doing here, in Manhattan?” A seamless transition. Placing his hand against her back, he pushed her towards the impatient teenager standing behind the register. Even through her winter coat, his touch sent a warmth through her chilled body. “We’re together,” he told the barista, grabbing for his wallet. He motioned towards a booth. “I’ve got a little time. What do you say?” Choosing one in corner, she slid in across from him. He removed his scarf and jacket, tossing them against the wall. “So,” he began. “Shall we finish our conversation from earlier? About how you don’t believe in fate or coincidences?” A sly smile fell over his lips, but Renee refused to show that his charm was working on her. She shook her head. “I stand by what I said.” He raised his eyebrows. Clearly, he didn’t believe her. “What do you call this?” He asked, taking a sip of his drink. “Weird.” He placed his hand over his chest, faking injury. Renee took a sip of her drink, trying to hide her smile. It was weird, to meet up again with him. It made Renee uneasy. When she had visited her grandmother before leaving for this business trip, her grandmother had given her a reading. “This will be the last one, I promise,” she’d said. Renee agreed, listening to what she’d been told hundreds of times. Except for one difference. “I see someone,” her grandmother said. She rubbed at her temples, in an effort to concentrate. She nodded over and over. “Yes, yes, I see him.” She laughed. “He’s good looking too!” Renee rolled her eyes. “I saw that,” her grandmother said, her eyes still closed. Leaning in, Renee waited. “Who is he? What does he look like?” “I thought you didn’t believe.” Her grandmother cracked an eye open. “I don’t,” Renee said defensively. “I’m…just curious.” Her grandmother patted her hand before getting up. “You’ll know.” Was Denver the man her grandmother had seen? Denver glanced at his watch, tapping the screen a few times before it went black. “What’s the reason you don’t believe in what your grandmother does?” Renee had to admit, Denver wasn’t the kind to beat around the bush. She admired that about him. Renee took a long sip, unsure of what to tell him. After a moment, she shrugged. “People only ever praise psychics for the readings that bring joy to a person’s life…” Denver nodded, waiting for her continue. “But no one ever discusses the readings that destroy a person’s life.” Renee could still remember the day her grandmother saw something horrible coming for her. “It’s going to destroy Renee’s childhood,” she’d overhead her grandmother tell her grandfather. Peeling at the decorative stickers on her cup, Renee took a deep breath. “My parents were killed in a car accident.” “I’m so sorry.” He reached across, stroking her fingers. “My grandmother saw it coming.” She stared out the window. “It wasn’t her fault it happened. But I blamed her for being able to see it coming. I blamed her for years.” It was a relief to have that off her chest, even if it was to a stranger. It had been a heavy burden to carry. Glancing down at her phone, she reached for her coffee. “I have to go – I have a flight to catch.” Denver tightened his grip. “I hope we can have one more…weird meeting,” he gave her fingers a final squeeze. “But if this is all we get, I really enjoyed meeting you, Renee.” Renee thought about their conversation the entire ride to the airport, and for half of the flight. She wished she’d asked him more about him, about whether or not he lived in Manhattan, but she decided it ultimately didn’t matter. They were two strangers, who shared a couple of conversations. It didn’t mean anything. Georgia’s weather was far gentler on Renee than Manhattan had been. It made her endless meetings worth it when she retreated to her hotel’s pool with a drink in hand. All that was missing, was someone to share it with. That, and some music. Reaching for her phone, she set up her summer playlist, letting the music wash her stress away. As the hours passed, she cracked an eye open, just to make sure she still had the pool to herself. She couldn’t explain it, but it felt like someone else was there with her too. As evening approached, she traded her swimsuit for a nice dress. It was rare that she treated herself out to a nice dinner alone. She decided on a tasteful seafood restaurant. The restaurant was dimly lit, with all waitstaff dressed in black and white. “How many will be dining with you tonight, ma’am?” The server asked. Renee set her purse beside herself. “Just myself tonight.” The server nodded, leaving her to explore the menu. She felt lonely, without Denver across from her. This is ridiculous she thought. She’d eaten alone at restaurants many times before. And Denver was just another person. He was still a stranger. Sure, she’d divulged a secret to him that she’d kept bottled inside for years, but that didn’t mean anything, did it? She’d momentarily considered that he was the man her grandmother saw before leaving for this trip, but it was just a fantasy. Taking a sip of wine, Renee stared out at the waterfront view. The sunset danced along the water’s edge, setting the water ablaze in a glow of oranges and reds. She wished Denver were here to see it. “My god, have you ever seen anything so beautiful before?” She knew that voice. Her heart lurched forward again, this time excited. She glanced up at the voice. “I don’t believe this.” Denver smiled back at her. “Maybe you should, because I’m not sure how many more wishes the universe is going to grant me.” She motioned for him to take a seat. His hair was neatly parted, and his suit freshly pressed. “This is weird.” She laughed and pointed her wine glass toward him. “That’s my line.” He leaned back, taking Renee in slowly. His stare alone sent goosebumps along her arms. Rubbing his chin, he leaned in towards her again. “I know you don’t believe in fate or coincidences Renee, but –“ “I think my grandmother was right.” The words flew out before she had a chance to stop them. Denver looked confused. “What?” Renee played with her straw wrapper. “Before I left for this trip, my grandmother gave me one final reading, and…she said she saw a man.” “Me?” Denver’s smile was growing by the second. Renee shrugged. “She wouldn’t’ say.” She could feel herself blushing. “To be honest, I didn’t believe it at first. I certainly didn’t believe it on the bus, and the coffee shop…” Denver stared at the sizzling plate placed in front of Renee. “And…now?” Renee slid her plate to the middle of the table. “I still don’t believe in fate or coincidences.” Denver’s smiled faded. She passed him the extra set of silverware. “But I do believe in…this.” She took a bite. “Maybe my grandmother was right.” Denver reached for her hand, just like he had at the coffee shop. “I’d very much like to meet her.” Renee smiled. “She’s probably already seen it coming.”