Thegirlpushesopenthegssdoorandstepsintothecafé,breathinginthefragranceofcoffeebeansandpastriesasitenfoldsherinafamiliarembrace.Herhighheelsslightlywobbling,shewalksovertoatablebythefloor-to-ceilingwindowsandsits.Thesntedsunlightofmid-afternooncastsherawashile,inspicuousspotlight,herdarkhairabsitswarmth,ashawloverherbareshoulders.

Shewearsawhitesleevelesstunidtealcroppedpants.Apairofnavy-rimmedgssesrestsonthebridgeofhernose,andtinyptinumcrestsdanglefromherears.

“Goodafternoon,”saysthewaiterpleasantly.Heholdsalittlenotepadandapencil,preparedtojotdownherorders.“Whatwouldyouliketodrinktoday?”

Thegirlsmilesupathim,hereyesglittering,andpointstwotablesawayatanotherwaiterservingatall,kinggssoficedmatcha:abeautifulpaletterepletewitharegalemeraldatthebottomthatfradientuptothefrothing,sea-foamwhiteatthesurface.

Herwaiterfollowshergaze,givesheraknowingsmile,andscribblessomethingdownonhisnotepad.Heasks,“Wouldyoulikeanythi?”

Thegirlshakesherhead,sayingnothing.

Thewaiternods,says,“Wonderful.Yourdrinkwillbereadyshortly.”Heleaves.

Thegirlturnshereyesoutthewindow,gazingabsentlyatdragonfliesflittingaboutovertheregurfountainoutside,butterfliesflutteringfromtheflowersofoedpnttoanother,smallchildrenchasingasmalldog,mouthsagapeindelightfulughter.

Whenherdrinkes,shetrailsafingerdownthesideofthegss,swipingthroughthesheenofdensationonthecoldsurface.Shebringsthestrawtohermouthandsips,eyeswanderingbackoutthewindow,atthefilmrenderedsilentbyaninvisiblewall.

Suddenly,somethingsmsintothegss,aartles,mouthpartinginsurprise.It’sabird,sherealizes,watgitdroppatheticallyontotheground,twitgthenstill.

Shereachesout,andthistimetrailsherfingerdownthewindowgssfromwherethebirdhadhit.Sheliftshergazefromthebird’smotionlessformandwatchesasdragonfliesflittimetersoverthewater’ssurface,asbutterfliesdanceuponstagesofvariousblossoms,assmallchildrenarechased,gigglingwithglee,byasmalldog.

Theotherpatronsofthecaféchatterinhushedtones,siptheirmyriadofdrinks,nibbleuponmasandwafflesandpannacottas.