Three Minutes with a Stranger

I didn't even have time to think—I just lunged for the handle of the coffee cart as it

started to tip, nearly taking the barista with it. A woman I’d never seen before grabbed

the other side at the exact same second, her boots skidding on the wet pavement. We were total strangers,

but for three minutes, we were a precision team, bracing the heavy metal frame while

hot espresso steamed up between us. By the time the cart was upright, we were both a mess,

but the adrenaline was better than any caffeine. She didn’t ask for my name; she just

handed me a stack of salvaged napkins and started laughing at the sheer absurdity of our "first date."

The barista was so grateful he handed us two double-shots and told us to "get out of the rain"