The morning sun peeked through the curtains, painting golden veins across the restaurant floor. The air smelled faintly of baked bread and sunlight but inside Anaya, there was only the storm of her heartbeat.
Her phone buzzed with a message.
Jiya mam..,
As she opened that message ..,
("He'll meet you today at the restaurant that you are working in.
He said he wants to see that place again, it holds a prcious memory to us .
I really wanted to come, but something urgent came up.
All the best, Anaya. You're going to do well.( A smile emoji)"
Anaya read the message three times continuously.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she placed the phone down on the counter. Joy quietly fluttered in her chest but so did a cold wave, creeping her with fear.
She walked around the restaurant, adjusting little things that didn't need adjusting. Wiped the counter twice. Checked the placement of chairs. Her movements were restless, like a bird circling its own cage.
The staff could sense it.
"You'll do it well, Anaya!" the head chef called out with a grin. "This will be gonna be a good day for you "
She gave a faint smile and nodded. "Thank you…"
In truth, her stomach was tied in a thousand knots. She had cleaned the VIP room three times already, each time slower than the last, just to stay busy. She told them to prepare a meal based on Jiya's suggestions.
By afternoon, the soft chatter of customers faded into a distant hum. The light in the restaurant had grown softer, more golden. The world outside seemed to slow down and then, the bell above the restaurant door chimed.
He had arrived...,
Nathan Thomas.
The same man from that day of New Year's. He walked in quietly, his presence composed but not arrogant. He wasn't just a customer anymore. he was the gatekeeper to something Anaya had dreamed of but never dared to expect.
She approached, bowing slightly. "Hello, sir… I'm Anaya."
But he smiled faintly and interrupted, "No need. I remember. If this wasn't a professional matter, I would've helped you without hesitation. But this… this is related to publication house. And in this world, things must be done properly."
His words weren't unkind. They were careful. Fair. He met her eyes. "I hope you won't take it the wrong way."
Anaya shook her head. "No, I understand. Thank you for coming sir."
He gave a soft nod. "Now then, let's get in."
She led him to the VIP room and sat across from him, heart pounding. She didn't read from the manuscript. She didn't bring notes. She just... Stared to spoke out her story.
She told the story the way she would tell a friend on a quiet night under the stars. halting at first, then with growing warmth, until the characters she'd created began to breathe into the space around them.
As the kitchen staff quietly placed the dishes on the table, he didn't touch them.
He was listening. Only ears on her story. Truly listening.
His eyes narrowed sometimes, not in judgment but focus. His fingers tapped his chin. When a particularly emotional part arrived, he sat very still as if afraid even the clink of a spoon might break the moment.
Anaya's voice wavered once or twice, but she kept going. Her story, her first story had become her heartbeat. She was no longer reciting words. she was bleeding pieces of herself, sharing the corners of her soul that had long been hidden.
An hour passed. Maybe more.
When she finally stopped, she let the silence wrap around them.
He sat still, gaze lowered, as though he hadn't yet returned from the world she had taken him to.
Finally, he exhaled. "Okay," he said. " That was… good. Really good."
Anaya blinked.
Her hands were still clenched together in her lap.
He continued, "Send me the manuscript by email. I'll review it, clean it up if needed, and start the publishing process."
She stared. Had she misheard him?
He leaned back with a slight smile. "It's the end of the year already. Do you have a particular day in mind for the release? A birthday? A favorite date?"
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Then he added gently, "I think January 1st would be perfect."
Her breath caught.
So soon?
So simply?
All this time, she thought publishing a book would be a climb through mountains, a maze of rejection and delay. And here he was already speaking of launch dates. Of futures.
She whispered to herself, half in disbelief, "He's already talking about the release…"
"Anaya?" he called softly.
She shook herself back to the present. "Yes.. sorry. January 1st. That's… that's perfect. But.. but, isn't that too soon for you?"
He chuckled. "It's tight, but not impossible. We have time. You've already done the hardest part."
Then he looked at her kindly. "Will you be publishing under your real name?"
She hesitated. "No… I'd prefer not to."
"A pen name, then?"
She paused, heart fluttering.
"I was thinking… 'Ann'. Just Ann."
"Hmm," he nodded. "Simple. Elegant. I like it. You want to stay anonymous, I assume?"
She nodded again.
"No problem," he said, standing slowly. "I'll be in touch soon with the next steps."
As he turned to leave, Anaya called out softly, "Wait… sir you've not eaten your lunch. We prepared some dishes for you. Would you.. why don't you try it?"
He blinked, then laughed gently. "Ah… I forgot I hadn't eaten. Honestly, your story filled me so much I felt like I already had."
For the first time that day, Anaya allowed herself a smile not from relief, but from quiet pride.
The door to her dreams hadn't just opened.
She had walked through it, trembling but not alone.
After sharing her story and dreams with Nathan, the air between them felt lighter, yet full of silent meaning. They both sat down to eat the lunch she had carefully prepared. Though simple, it carried the weight of her gratitude and hope.
Nathan smiled gently, taking a bite. "You've got warmth in your words… and your food," he said with a soft chuckle. Anaya looked down shyly, her cheeks tinting pink.
When the meal ended, he stood up and adjusted his coat. "I'll be in touch soon with the contract and details. Get ready, Ann.. the world is about to read your words."
He turned to leave, but paused at the door. "And don't overthink it. You're better than you believe." With a brief wave and a kind smile, Nathan walked away.
Anaya stood by the doorway, watching him disappear into the city crowd. For a moment, her heart felt still, both full and trembling.
She ran into the kitchen, unable to contain her joy. "He said yes!" she told the staff. "He said it'll be published on January 1st!"
The chefs clapped, the servers cheered. In the evening, someone brought out a small cake meant for a cancelled order, and they placed a candle on it.
"To Anaya, soon-to-be published author!" they raised their voices.
The laughter, the warm lights of the restaurant, the kindness of those around her, it all felt surreal.
Later that night, after all the tables were cleared and the final dish was washed, Anaya sat by the window of her tiny room above the restaurant. The sky outside was dark, embroidered with thousands of stars. The moon was nowhere to be seen, but the stars… the stars were brighter than ever.
She unlocked her phone and opened her Weibo account. Her fingers trembled a little, but her heart was ready.
She typed:
"I did it."
He said my work is not just good, it's soulful.
He said he'll help me publish it.
He even told me the release date: January 1st.
I felt something I haven't in a long time, maybe a little pride.
I don't know how many more steps there are to reach you.
But I'll take every one of them.
I'll keep writing.
I'll keep growing.
I'll keep walikg.. until I reach you.
Someday, I want to stand beside you, not just as someone who watched you from afar,
but as someone you'll be proud to know.
Tonight, the sky is covered in stars. I wish you could see it.
I'm really, really happy.
Good night, Yu Chen.
She hit send, knowing well there would be no reply.
But some messages… weren't meant to be replied to.
Those were meant to be remembered.
With a quiet smile and sleepy eyes, Anaya curled under her blanket.
That night, she didn't dream of meeting him. she dreamed of becoming someone who deserved to.