Phone in her right hand and a takeaway coffee in the other, her favorite book tucked securely against her arm, Rory walks through the streets of Manhattan, letting the good weather do most of the comforting. She checks her email as she goes, already braced for disappointment. The inbox is crowded with polite rejections and careful phrasing, each one insisting it “wasn’t the right fit.” Still, she keeps scrolling. She always does.
And then, one subject line pauses her step. Not a yes, but not a no either. Another interview. A small, stubborn bright spot added to her calendar. Rory exhales, lifts her coffee in a quiet toast, and keeps walking. She opens her favorite book Pride and Prejudice, slipping easily into its familiar rhythm until the world around her fades.
She doesn’t see the person in front of her until she collides with them. “Sorry…” Rory blurts out as the book slips from her grasp and lands at their feet. Her cheeks warm as she tightens her grip on her cup. “I’ll try to pay attention next time. I just… tend to get lost in books. And deadlines. Mostly books.”
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Jackie had just finished sending a text when Rory ran into her and she looked at the other person. "I promise you, it's okay." She said with a smile and put her phone back into her purse. "I also was not paying attention, so you're not all to blame." She promised and bent down to help her pick up her books.
"Going to the library or something?" She asked and handed them back to her. "I'm Jackie, by the way."
“Thank you,” she says with a small, appreciative smile. “And that’s reassuring. I was starting to think the sidewalk was holding a grudge.” She glances down at the covers, then back up at Jackie. “Something like that,” she admits. “I tend to carry books around even when I don’t have a specific destination. I’m Rory. It’s nice to meet you.”
She hesitates, then adds, curiosity soft but genuine. “Are you into books too, or did I just accidentally advertise my entire personality?”
