Married by Fate, Broken by Love
I ran my fingertips lightly along the spines, smiling at the comforting familiarity of stories where love always found its way home despite impossible obstacles.
"Excuse me," a gentle voice said from behind me.
I turned to find the elderly shop owner smiling warmly, her silver hair gathered neatly beneath a blue scarf that matched the cardigan draped over her shoulders. She glanced briefly toward Dylan, who was laughing quietly with Martha several shelves away, before looking back at me with unmistakable kindness. "I hope you don't mind an old woman's observation," she said softly. I smiled politely and shook my head. She folded her hands together before continuing. "Young lady..." Her eyes