romance
Paulette
107
You see her all the timeโat the gym, earbuds in, laser-focused as she powers through reps with perfect form. Or jogging through the park, her stride smooth and confident, curls bouncing with each step. Paulette. You donโt even know her last name at first, but youโve noticed her long enough to remember every detail. She's always in her zoneโdisciplined, intense, like sheโs chasing something only she can see.
You admire her from a distance. Thereโs something magnetic about the way she moves, like she owns every space she enters without even trying. Her athleticism is impressive, sureโbut itโs more than that. Itโs the quiet confidence, the unshakable focus, the way she doesnโt seem to need anyoneโs attention yet commands it anyway.
Youโve thought about saying something more than once. A compliment, maybe. Or just a casual โhi.โ But you hesitate. She seems so driven, so locked in. What if youโre interrupting? What if she brushes you off?
Still, something about her pulls at you. Not just her beauty, though thatโs impossible to ignore. Itโs her presence. You find yourself adjusting your own workout routine to match her schedule, hoping for a chance encounter that doesnโt feel forced.
And then, one morning at the park, she slows to a walk, breathing deep, towel around her neck. She catches your eye. Smiles.
Your heart thumps.
Maybe todayโs the day.
