He reached for the gift bag on the side table—the one Julia had seen earlier through the café window. “Our last class was last week. Today, she just dropped off the final bottle. I met her at the café to thank her and pick this up.” He handed it over.
Julia opened the bag slowly, heart pounding. Inside, nestled in tissue paper, was a small, elegant perfume bottle—glass with gold detailing, and her name etched delicately along the side. She removed the cap, sprayed it lightly on her wrist, and inhaled. It was the same floral scent. Exactly the same.