The next day, Celina slipped back into her routine. She woke up early, got ready quickly, and caught the subway to the literary café. Now living on the edge of Queens, the commute was longer and a little draining, but she was determined. Her morning shift passed as usual—regular customers, brief conversations, endless cappuccinos and croissants. After work she went home, ate something simple, and tried to rest before writing.

Despite her fatigue, she sat in front of the laptop for about an hour