Dulcia was struck speechless. A beautiful woman had come over and offered to buy her a drink. She didn't want to let this opportunity slip her by. She'd already uprooted her entire life to move to a new city with no friends or family for miles. “I'd love your help,” she said, “but please I can pay you back.”

“You don't need to worry about that,” she said. The woman was already making her way over to counter before Dulcia could argue otherwise.

She moved with purpose. Every nuance of her actions were filled with a confidence that Dulcia found equal parts admirable and mesmerising. Dulcia watched her ordering. It was a far cry from what happened when she had attempted to order. The woman told the barista to wait while she examined the menu. Satisfied, she leaned over the counter and whispered the order to the barista. Dulcia couldn't help but grin to herself, watching the woman put so much thought into the drink she was getting her.

Dulcia was entirely in the dark as to what the woman ordered for her. She returned carrying a drink in a tall glass. She lowered it down onto the table in front of Dulcia with the grace of a dancer. Dulcia cast a glance between the woman, now sat across from her, and the drink. It was paler than the espresso she'd ordered and topped with a generous helping of whipped cream. A golden syrup swirled around the inside of the glass and on top of the cream.

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Dulcia dipped a finger in the cream, lifting it to her lips she gave it a lick. Her mouth was filled with sweet caramel. A smile pulled at her lips. Dulcia took a sip from the glass, letting the velvety flavours flow through her. She could taste the coffee but it wasn't the overwhelming taste that the espresso had been. It was perfect for her.

“Do you like it?” the woman asked, leaning in a little closer. Her eyes were a rich chestnut and Dulcia found herself getting lost in their lustre.

Dulcia pulled her attention back to the coffee. “It's lovely.” She could feel the heat on her cheeks and hoped the woman wouldn't notice.

“That's good to hear,” she said. She smiled and it was the same smile as when she'd sipped her coffee. The same smile that had captivated Dulcia, but now it was directed at her. “It's called a caramel latte and my name is Mia.”

“Dulcia.”