An Old Friend

Rina was halfway through debating which brand of coffee to grab when a voice called out behind her.

"Hailee Rain?"

She froze.

Turning around, she saw an elderly woman gray hair, warm but sharp eyes, the kind that had seen decades of life. And unfortunately, the kind that recognized her.

Rina forced a polite smile, but in her mind, sarcasm hit hard. "An old friend. Literally old."

The woman smiled, eyes twinkling. "I'd recognize that face anywhere. Hailee Rain… after all these years."

Rina blinked, then quickly schooled her expression. "Oh! No, no—my grandmother. You must be thinking of her. She passed a long time ago."

The old woman's face softened. "Oh… I see. I'm so sorry. She was a remarkable woman."

Rina nodded solemnly. "Yeah. She really was."

Lie smooth as silk.

The woman patted her arm gently. "You look so much like her. Just as beautiful."

Rina chuckled. "Guess it runs in the family."

And just like that, she had dodged another bullet from the past.