The fluorescent lights of the supermarket buzzed softly overhead as Cathleen Bate pushed her cart down the aisle, the familiar hum of everyday life enveloping her like a comforting embrace. After a long week of hero work, the mundane task of grocery shopping felt almost surreal. She grabbed a few items, her mind wandering to the chaos of the streets, when she noticed a woman standing at the end of the aisle.

"Damn... she's a looker," her mind commented, giving a second glance at the woman before turning away to look at the chips on the shelves. So many options...

The woman was alone, her gaze fixed intently on the shelves as if lost in thought. There was something magnetic about her, a quiet beauty that made the world around them fade into the background. Cathleen felt an urge to steal a third glance to seal the image in her mind.

Cathleen’s heart skipped a beat, her usual confidence momentarily faltering. Why was she so captivated? It was just a simple moment in a grocery store, yet it felt charged with something more. She found herself drawn closer, each step feeling like a leap into the unknown.

"Just grab the chips, Cathleen. You’re off duty," she muttered under her breath, trying to distract herself from being tempted. However, this unexpected encounter felt like a moment worth savoring, and she couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps, fate had a hand in bringing them together.