A Moment of Solitude

As she watched Alex disappear into the classroom, Ashley felt a sense of relief wash over her. She took a deep breath and let her shoulders relax, feeling a sense of calm that she hadn't experienced in a long time. With the baby bump growing bigger by the day, and taking care of Alex's needs, it was rare for her to have a moment to herself. She decided to treat herself to a quiet morning at the cafe down the street. She walked to the cafe, enjoying the warm sunshine on her face and the gentle breeze rustling her hair. As she pushed open the door, a bell above it rang out, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods enveloped her. She smiled, feeling a sense of comfort and tranquility wash over her. The cafe was quiet, with only a few patrons scattered about, typing away on their laptops or reading books. Ashley took a seat at a small table by the window and perused the menu. She ordered a hot chocolate and a sandwich, and as she waited for her food to arrive, she took a moment to people-watch. A young couple sat across from her, holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes. An elderly woman sat at a nearby table, reading a book and sipping a cup of tea. As she waited, Ashley's mind began to wander. She thought about Alex, and how he was adjusting to school. She thought about the baby, and how she was preparing for motherhood. She thought about Evan, and how he was doing. She hadn't seen him in a while, but they had texted briefly the night before. Just as she was starting to get lost in thought, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Evan. "Hey, I'm on my break now. I'll be there in 10 minutes." Ashley smiled, feeling a flutter in her chest. She quickly finished her thoughts and waited for Evan to arrive. A few minutes later, the door to the cafe swung open, and Evan walked in. He scanned the room, his eyes locking onto Ashley's. He smiled, and she felt her heart skip a beat. He walked over to her, dropping his bag onto the floor beside him. "Hey," he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "You look beautiful today." Ashley blushed, feeling a little shy. "Thanks," she said. "I'm just enjoying a quiet moment to myself." Evan nodded, taking a seat across from her. "I'm glad I could join you," he said. "I was thinking about you all morning." The waitress arrived with Ashley's hot chocolate and sandwich, and Evan ordered a coffee. As they waited for their drinks to arrive, they chatted about their days, and Ashley felt a sense of ease and comfort with Evan that she hadn't experienced in a long time. It was nice to have a moment to herself, and to share it with someone she cared about.