[center][url=https://open.spotify.com/track/5gWtkdgdyt5bZt9i6n3Kqd?si=37957e6e11974ccb][img]https://i.postimg.cc/05m61xNT/Elena-Castellano-removebg-preview-1.png[/img][/url][/center][right][sub]Interactions: Loni [@FernStone][/sub][/right][hr]
[indent][color=#ffffff]Elena watched as the man shuffled out of the bakery, his slumped figure gradually fading into the bustling crowd outside. She sighed deeply, her fingers tightening around her half-empty cup, the ceramic warm against her palm. This was always the hardest part—the disappointment that settled in after chasing leads that led nowhere. It wasn't just frustration; it was that nagging ache that came with wanting to help and realizing that sometimes, sheer determination just wasn’t enough. A part of her had wanted to believe him too, wanted his story to be something more than just an illusion built on fear. But the reality was, there had been nothing concrete, nothing more than a jumble of desperate words from a man whose credibility seemed as fragile as his trembling hands.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]The skepticism she had held onto earlier now settled into a tangled web of emotions—regret, frustration, even a flicker of self-doubt. Had she been too quick to dismiss him? Had there been a subtle cue she overlooked, something in his words or mannerisms that hinted at a deeper truth she hadn’t given herself the time to see? After all, Cloverfield had a way of blurring the lines between what was real and what was just the fevered imaginings of desperate people.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Elena shook her head slightly, the movement almost imperceptible, as if she could physically rid herself of those thoughts. She closed her eyes for a moment, willing herself to regain some semblance of balance. It was just another dead end, she reminded herself. This city was filled with people like him—people desperate to find meaning in things they couldn’t understand, people who blurred the line between their fears and reality until the distinction became impossible to see. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]This wasn’t the first time she had encountered someone like that, and she knew it wouldn’t be the last.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Just as Elena tried to let go of the lingering frustration and disappointment, a sudden jolt interrupted her thoughts. A small force collided with her legs, almost making her drop her cup. Startled, she looked down, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of a little girl gazing up at her with large, curious brown eyes.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]For a moment, Elena blinked, disoriented by the sudden shift. The girl’s tiny hand grabbed at her pant leg, tugging insistently, her other hand pointing at the stool beside Elena as she babbled words that were incomprehensible but full of conviction. The child’s puffy jacket made her look almost comically round, like a little marshmallow, and despite the abruptness of it all, Elena felt a smile tugging at her lips.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Before she could react, a woman rushed over, her voice frantic as she scooped the little girl into her arms. Elena watched, still off-balance, as the mother tried to corral her daughter, who was wriggling with relentless energy. The girl—Luciana, she soon learned—leaned toward the empty stool, her tiny hands reaching, her eyes alight with fascination. There was something endearing in the chaos, an innocence that felt strangely comforting in the wake of her earlier disappointment.[/color]

[color=#ff7360]“'M so sorry,”[/color][color=#ffffff] the woman—Loni—said, finally turning her gaze to Elena, her expression open and apologetic. [/color][color=#ff7360]“She’s a runner- Mind if we sit? Just for a moment.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Before Elena could nod, Loni had already settled Luciana onto the stool next to her, one hand resting on the little girl’s back for support. Luciana continued to babble happily, her legs kicking in excitement as her wide eyes took in every detail of the bakery. Elena chuckled quietly, the heaviness of her previous thoughts easing slightly. Loni’s gaze softened as she watched her daughter, her eyes filled with a love so deep it seemed to glow. Her laughter, light and genuine, carried a warmth that was hard to ignore, even for Elena, who found herself relaxing despite everything. The exhaustion was evident in Loni’s eyes, but so was a quiet resilience. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]Motherhood was clearly a challenge, but one that Loni seemed to face with unwavering love.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Elena found herself smiling back at Loni without hesitation. [/color][color=#f9c2bf]“Nice to meet you, Loni. And you too, Luciana,”[/color][color=#ffffff]she said, her voice gentler now, softer, as if she was trying not to startle the little one.  As to the other’s question, Elena shrugged slightly, her eyes glancing toward the counter where the barista worked.[/color][color=#f9c2bf]“They’re all about cards and digital payments now, I think,” [/color][color=#ffffff]she said, her eyes returning to Loni. [/color][color=#f9c2bf] “I remember the first time I came up to the North Side after the Cataclysm, I didn’t even realize that cash was such a rare thing here. I tried to grab a coffee at a place like this—stood there for what felt like forever, digging through my bag for change, while the barista just[/color][i][color=#f9c2bf] stared[/color][/i][color=#f9c2bf] at me.” [/color][color=#ffffff]She shook her head with a small, rueful smile. [/color][color=#f9c2bf]“It was pretty embarrassing, but I learned my lesson. Now, I always make sure I’ve got at least one card on me when I come over here.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Elena looked at Luciana, whose eyes were still filled with wonder as she gazed around, seemingly taking in everything at once. There was something so unguarded about her, something so genuinely curious, that it made Elena’s chest feel a little less tight.[/color]

[color=#f9c2bf]“I guess some things never change,”[/color][color=#ffffff]she added, her gaze softening. Her eyes shifted back to Loni, and she added with a hint of sincerity,[/color][color=#f9c2bf]“You keep finding surprises, even if they aren’t the ones you expected.”[/color][/indent]