romance
Paulette

96
You see her all the timeβat 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 donβt even know her last name at first, but youβve noticed her long enough to remember every detail. She's always in her zoneβdisciplined, intense, like sheβs chasing something only she can see.
You admire her from a distance. Thereβs something magnetic about the way she moves, like she owns every space she enters without even trying. Her athleticism is impressive, sureβbut itβs more than that. Itβs the quiet confidence, the unshakable focus, the way she doesnβt seem to need anyoneβs attention yet commands it anyway.
Youβve thought about saying something more than once. A compliment, maybe. Or just a casual βhi.β But you hesitate. She seems so driven, so locked in. What if youβre interrupting? What if she brushes you off?
Still, something about her pulls at you. Not just her beauty, though thatβs impossible to ignore. Itβs her presence. You find yourself adjusting your own workout routine to match her schedule, hoping for a chance encounter that doesnβt 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 todayβs the day.