Daniel had forgotten what it felt like to be excited about meeting someone.

‎Then he met her at a bookstore on a quiet Saturday afternoon.

‎

‎She was standing in front of the romance section, holding a book in one hand and reading the back cover with a small smile.

‎

‎Daniel reached for the same book.

‎

‎Their hands touched.

‎

‎“Sorry,” she said, pulling hers away.

‎

‎Daniel smiled. “You can have it.”

‎

‎She looked at him.

‎

‎“You were reaching for it first.”

‎

‎“I wasn't in a hurry.”

‎

‎She studied him for a second before handing him the book.

‎

‎“Then I suppose we're both being polite for no reason.”

‎

‎Daniel laughed.

‎

‎That was how it started.

‎

‎A book neither of them bought.

‎

‎A conversation neither of them planned.

‎

‎And a smile Daniel found himself thinking about long after he left the bookstore.

‎

‎They exchanged numbers before going their separate ways.

‎

‎That evening, Daniel received a message.

‎

‎“I hope you eventually found something worth reading.”

‎

‎He smiled.

‎

‎“I did.”

‎

‎She replied almost immediately.

‎

‎“What?”

‎

‎Daniel stared at the screen for a moment before typing:

‎

‎“You.”

‎

‎There was a long pause.

‎

‎Then her reply came.

‎

‎“That was smooth.”

‎

‎Daniel laughed.

‎

‎From that night, their conversations became almost effortless.

‎

‎Her name was Maya.

‎

‎She loved old songs, hated crowded places, and had a habit of going quiet whenever something was bothering her.

‎

‎Daniel liked the way she listened.

‎

‎He liked the way she laughed.

‎

‎Most of all, he liked how quickly being around her stopped feeling like being around a stranger.

‎

‎Within weeks, their casual conversations had become late-night calls.

‎

‎Their occasional outings became something they both looked forward to.

‎

‎And somewhere between the coffee dates and long walks home, Daniel realized he was falling in love.

‎

‎Maya was falling too.

‎

‎Neither of them said it at first.

‎

‎They didn't need to.

‎

‎It was in the way she looked at him.

‎

‎The way his face changed whenever her name appeared on his phone.

‎

‎One evening, they sat together in the car after dinner.

‎

‎Neither wanted to leave.

‎

‎Maya rested her head against his shoulder.

‎

‎Daniel gently held her hand.

‎

‎“I don't know when this happened,” he whispered.

‎Maya smiled.

‎

‎“Neither do I.”

‎

‎Daniel turned toward her.

‎

‎Their eyes met.

‎

‎For a moment, the world outside the car seemed to disappear.

‎

‎He leaned closer.

‎

‎So did she.

‎

‎Then Maya suddenly pulled back.

‎

‎Her expression changed.

‎

‎“Daniel…”

‎

‎“What's wrong?”

‎

‎She stared at him for several seconds.

‎

‎Then she asked something he wasn't expecting.

‎

‎“Have we met before?”

‎

‎Daniel smiled.

‎

‎“I don't think so.”

‎

‎Maya looked away.

‎

‎“I thought so too.”

‎

‎She paused.

‎

‎“But sometimes when I'm with you…”

‎

‎Her voice faded.

‎

‎Daniel waited.

‎

‎She looked back at him.

‎

‎“It feels like I've loved you before.”

‎

‎Daniel didn't know what to say.

‎

‎He simply held her hand.

‎

‎Neither of them noticed the old photograph lying inside Maya's handbag.

‎

‎A photograph she had carried for years.

‎

‎A photograph of a little girl standing beside a young boy.

‎

‎And on the back, written in faded ink, were two names:

‎

‎Maya and Daniel.

‎

‎To be continued...

‎