Chapter 4 — A Friendly Suggestion

Sara Bennett

The aroma of freshly brewed chai and warm pastries cocooned Sara as she stepped into Priya’s Café, a small sanctuary tucked away from the city’s relentless pace. The interior was a riot of bright colors—hand-painted murals on the walls, mismatched chairs, and strings of fairy lights that made the space feel like a cozy hug. Indie music hummed softly in the background, and the scent of spices lingered in the air, grounding her in the here and now. It was a stark contrast to the sterile, polished surfaces of Edgewood Marketing, and Sara found herself unconsciously relaxing as she scanned the room.