If she tried to remember it would flee and hide, circling ‘round and ‘round until finally finding a new place in her mind to sliver and disappear. It was all smoke and mirrors, her memory, elusive and ethereal. If she didn’t know any better, Vera would swear she was suffering an onset of early Alzheimer’s disease but no, nothing like that.

It was just moments like this! Where she found herself sitting outside a cafe with an untouched cup of coffee on the table in front of her no longer steaming, and suddenly she had no recollection on how she found herself there in the first place.

In the sun. And a cup of coffee.

Sitting alone and feeling very much as though she had been as equally forgotten along the way. No one spoke until a waiter, some concerned man peering down at her through the artful cut of his bangs, gently asking if she needed anything.

Bright eyes rolled and circled until finding his face, the Gypsy staring rudely before remembering it is human to blink and breathe. The air suddenly rushing in to soothe the burning in her lungs, exhaled abruptly on the smallest of gasps.

"No, I’m fine luv, thanks." A smile, one that curled her lips but never reached her eyes, once more blankly staring until she forced herself into the act of normalcy. Clearing her throat as though embarrassed she rummaged in her purse – thinking she didn’t remember bringing it but then again, she didn’t remember anything about last night – murmuring, "I’ll take the check now."

He straightened, pausing to lay a hand on her shoulder. "Miss, are you sure?"

Vera stiffened noticeably, she couldn’t help it, her eyes flickering and bleeding into a feral gold, blunt human teeth sinking into her bottom lip. "I’m fine, really luv. I just need the check, I’ll be late for work."

She hasn’t worked for what? The last three years" Not since … …well. She brushed that thought away as easily as she brushed the young man’s hand off her.

"I could … I could walk with you, my shift is almost ove—"

"No, thanks! And really' It’s what, only ten o’clock" How is your shift already over?" she teased him, throwing money carelessly now on the table, her purse curled tightly to her side.

"Actually, it’s almost three now."

"Oh." She had nothing more to say, not when reality seemed to shrink and warp around her, fear making her heart skip a beat. Missing Time again.

"You work for the library, right' I’ve seen you before." Cue that shy-school-boy-smile, the one he thinks will make a most memorable impression.

"I did, I mean, I do. But I’ve not been in town for a long time," a pause, a new fear taking root in her brain, married to suspicion, "how strange you remember me."

"Is it strange to remember someone who is," he moved closer, just enough to invade her personal space, "rather compelling?"

Would it be rude if she laughed in his face" But he got kudos for the use of 'compelling' when he could’ve used any number of banal adjectives. And he smelled good. Whatever cologne he wore, well! Points again, she thought, her lips twitching in more than a little amusement.

"Considering there are any great number of rather compelling individuals populating our fair city, actually, yes. A little."

Despite being flattered the Gypsy took a step back, tapping the notes on the table with a red fingernail. "Keep the change luv."

"I will see you later." He murmured, tipping his head and leaning forward as though making some grand gesture, a courtier performing a bow.

Paranoia is a b*tch to deal with and Vera was no stranger to it. Immediately her chin rose and her eyes flashed, every instinct screaming at her to shut this sh*t down before she had trouble on her hands.

Again. Because, why not'

"Don’t count on it."