Morning came with noise. Cars honking, people shouting, life moving too fast for Amy to care. She sat by her window, watching drops of rain slide down the glass. Her phone buzzed again. Bridget, of course.
"You didn't show up last night. Are you okay?"
Amy typed back "Yeah. Just tired"
It wasn't a lie, not really. She was tired of pretending, of trying, of feeling like she didn't belong in Bridget's shiny world. By noon, Bridget was already outside in her red car. She always showed up unannounced. Always smiling like nothing bad ever happened.
"Amy! Come on, we are going shopping," she said, leaning out of the window.
Amy sighed but grabbed her bag anyway. "You're not giving up, are you?"
"Never," Bridget laughed. "You look like need air and maybe a cupcake."
They drove through the streets of Paris, past cafes and flower shops. For a moment, Amy almost forgot the weight on her chest. Bridget talked about clothes, her boyfriend Nicole, her new perfume. Amy just listened.
When they stopped at a café, Bridget leaned forward, her voice low. "You ever think about what life would be like if things were…different?"
Amy looked out the window at a couple holding hands under an umbrella "All the time," she said.
A cool wind brushed through the café door as someone walked in. Amy felt it before she saw them. For a second, the air shifted like the world had gone quiet. An old woman stood by the counter, her clothes dark, her eyes deep and tired. She looked around slowly, then straight at Amy.
Amy froze. She didn't know her but something about that look made her chest tighten. The woman smiled soft and whispered something to the barista. Bridget didn't notice. She was too busy taking a photo of her drink. "Amy, smile!"
Amy tired, but her eyes stayed on the woman. The old lady picked up her tea, turned towards the door, and as she passed their table, she said in a low voice, "Moon remembers, child. The curse never sleeps"
Amy's heart jumped. "What?" she whispered, but the woman was already gone.
Bridget blinked. "Who was that?"
"I…I don't know," Amy said, her voice small.
Outside, thunder rolled across the city, though the sky was still clear.