Then he noticed she never checked a phone. There were no quick glances, buzzing notifications, or headphones peeking from a pocket. Most younger staff lived half their shift glued to screens. Lena moved through her days as if she existed outside everything modern, which further sharpened Evan’s curiosity.
He arrived early once and found her already there, polishing tables before the lights were fully on. Another time, he returned late for a forgotten scarf and caught her locking up. Early in, last out. Most waitresses didn’t treat cafés like sanctuaries. But Lena’s hard work and exhaustion looked voluntary.