Run: 2026-07-25-01KYD4ZBPAEZB1TWQ15E15XFXQ

The bell above the bakery door jingled, and the scent of cinnamon swirled around her as she stepped inside. Flour dust clung to the air, and somewhere in the back, a mixer hummed. “You shouldn’t be here,” he said, wiping his hands on a flour-dusted apron. “I could say the same.” She ran a finger along the counter, tracing the cracks in the wood. “The journal’s gone, isn’t it?” He didn’t answer right away. “Some things are better left buried.” “Like the letter in your desk drawer? The one that starts with *I never wanted this*?” A spoon clattered against a mixing bowl. “You don’t understand what that could do.” “You mean to your reputation. Your *legacy*.” She leaned closer. “The town’s been asking questions about the ovens. About the burns.” His laugh was sharp, brittle. “Easy for you to say. You weren’t the one who touched the dough when the heat went up.” Outside, rain began to patter against the windows. Inside, the sugar caramelized in the pan, darkening too quickly.