It was late 2023 in a world still smarting from C19 and complicated by the conflicts that never stop. We met online, dont judge it is the 21st century.
I was out of town at the time and didnt know if she would still be around on my return. Anyway, I called and she was still available so a rendezvous in a little cafe downtown was arranged.
That first meeting was speculative, the passage of time was evident, a little full about the the waist and an air of resignation about her. Still, she had been a beauty once, still was to be fair. We left together and our journey began...