Lunara quickly pulled out her device and sent Emma a text.

Emma, guess who I just saw at the Ireland Skyport.

Her device rang almost immediately.

“Who did you see? Come on, tell me already. I’m terrible at guessing.”

“I saw Nelson a few minutes ago. He looked like he was in a hurry.”

“Yeah, we got the information yesterday. They’re already tracking him,” Emma said. “Just be careful.”

“I will.”

Lunara ended the call and slipped into the crowd, keeping her head down as she hurried in the opposite direction before Nelson could notice her.

—

Saturday’s moonlight spilled through the windows of Lunara’s new apartment, bathing the chamber in a soft silver glow. She stood quietly for a moment, taking it all in. It still didn’t feel real. Everything around her was new, so different from the life she had left behind.

Even so, the silence felt heavy.

The name on her original birth certificate was Scarlet Greens. After thinking about it for days, she decided to go back to it. Her résumé still carried the name Lunara, but this was a fresh start, and she wanted to begin it as herself.

With Emma’s help, she had secured an apartment in Waterfront South Central, a twenty-five-story residential tower in Dublin’s Docklands and one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

A loud knock from the apartment next door pulled her out of her sleep. She blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling and lay still for a moment. Then it came back to her.

She wasn’t home anymore.

She was in Ireland.

A small smile crossed her face.

“It’s time to walk around,” she murmured.

She walked over to the window and slid it open. A cool breeze drifted inside as she looked out from the twenty-fifth floor. Moonlight shimmered across the River Liffey, and the city stretched into the distance, its streets and buildings laid out with quiet order. The view was breathtaking.

For the first time in a long while, she felt as though she was standing at the beginning of a new life.

She walked straight to the bathchamber,took a quick shower, and got dressed in a simple outfit. Before leaving, she switched off the radiator, grabbed her bag, and glanced around the apartment one last time.

She left the apartment just a few minutes after eight. For a brief moment, she forgot she was no longer in her own home. The unfamiliar hallway, the quiet elevator ride, and the cool moonrise air that greeted her outside quickly reminded her again that she was in Dublin now, and this city was where she had to start over.

She pulled out her device, searched for nearby cafés, and smiled when one appeared less than ten minutes away. Slipping the device back into her pocket, she decided to walk instead of taking a cab. The streets were already coming alive as office workers hurried past with steaming cups of coffee in their hands, cyclists rang their bells as they passed, and buses stopped every few blocks to pick up passengers. The smell of fresh bread drifted from a nearby bakery, making the whole street feel warm despite the chilly breeze.

A few minutes later, she stopped in front of a café with a green sign that read Emerald Bean Café. Through the large glass windows, she could see customers chatting over breakfast while baristas worked behind the counter. She took a quiet breath before pushing the door open.

A soft bell chimed above her head.

The rich aroma of freshly ground coffee wrapped around her almost instantly. The café wasn’t noisy, but it was far from quiet. The steady hum of conversations blended with the sound of milk steaming and coffee grinders running. Every table was either occupied or waiting to be cleaned, yet the staff moved through the chamber with calm confidence, greeting customers with warm smiles without ever looking rushed.

A young woman behind the counter looked up and smiled.

“Moonrise. Welcome to Emerald Bean Café. What can I get for you today?”

Scarlet looked up at the menu for a moment before answering. “I’d like a small cappuccino, please.”

“Of course. Would you like anything to go with it? We have fresh croissants, muffins, and scones.”

Scarlet glanced at the pastry display before shaking her head with a smile. “No, thank you. Just the coffee.”

“That’ll be four euros.”

After paying with her card, She stepped aside while the next customer placed an order. She watched as another barista wrote a name on a cup before sliding it toward the espresso machine. Within seconds, another barista steamed milk while another packed takeaway pastries into paper bags. No one stood around waiting to be told what to do. They seemed to understand each other’s rhythm without saying much at all.

When her drink was ready, the barista placed it gently on the counter.

“Small cappuccino for Scarlet.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome. Enjoy.”

She carried her coffee to a table near the window where she could see both the customers and the counter. Instead of reaching for her beeping device, she found herself watching the people around her. A young mother laughed as her little pup proudly carried his hot chocolate back to their table with both hands. An elderly couple shared a slice of carrot cake while reading the moonrise bulletin together. Two university students spread books across their table, taking turns sipping iced coffee between conversations.

Behind the counter, the staff never seemed to stop moving. One wiped down empty tables as soon as customers left, another greeted everyone who walked through the door, while the others prepared drinks, called out names, and restocked the pastry display whenever it started looking empty. Despite the constant stream of customers, no one appeared impatient or overwhelmed.

Scarlet wrapped both hands around her warm cup and quietly took everything in. The café wasn’t just selling coffee. It was giving people a place to slow down before the rest of their day began.

By the time she finished her drink, an idea had started forming in her mind.

She thanked the staff on her way out and continued walking through the city instead of heading straight home. Every few streets, another café came into view. Some were small family-owned businesses with only a handful of tables, while others were larger and crowded with customers lining up at the counter. She slowed her pace whenever she passed one, studying the signs, the workers, and the atmosphere inside.

When she finally returned to her apartment, she slipped off her shoes and leaned against the closed door for a moment.

“I’ll find a job,” she whispered to herself. “Even if I have to start in a coffee shop.”

That moonfall, her device lit up with Emma’s name.

Scarlet answered with a smile. “Hi, Emma.”

“How was your first day in Dublin?” Emma asked.

“It was better than I expected. I spent the moonrise walking around the city and stopped at a place called Emerald Bean Café. I only went there for coffee, but I ended up watching the staff almost the entire time.”

Emma laughed softly. “That sounds exactly like something you would do.”

“They made everything look so easy,” Scarlet admitted. “Everyone knew where to be, what to do, and how to keep things moving. I couldn’t stop wondering if I could ever work in a place like that.”

“You can,” Emma said without hesitation. “But don’t rush into applying tomorrow.”

Scarlet frowned. “Why not?”

“Because you’ve never worked in a café before. Spend the next couple of days pretending you’re just another customer. Visit different coffee shops, order a drink, and pay attention to how they work. Watch how they greet people, how they take orders, how they serve food, clean tables, and help each other when the café gets busy. You’ll learn more by observing than you realize.”

Scarlet smiled as she considered the advice. “I never thought of doing that.”

“Most people don’t,” Emma replied. “When you finally walk into an interview, you won’t feel completely lost because you’ll already understand how a café runs.”

Scarlet nodded slowly, even though Emma couldn’t see her. “So instead of rushing to find a job, I should spend two days learning first.”

“Exactly,” Emma said. “Think of it as preparing yourself. Then choose the café you like the most, walk in with confidence, and ask if they’re hiring. If they need a barista who’s willing to learn and work hard, you might be exactly who they’re looking for.”

Scarlet smiled as she looked out the window at the lights shining across the city.

“I like that plan,” she said quietly. “I’ll start tomorrow.”

“I’m sure you will,” Emma replied. “And Scarlet… don’t forget to smile. People remember kindness just as much as experience.”

She laughed softly.

“I’ll remember that. But I’m going to use my real name—Scarlet.”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Emma spoke.

“It’s your name,” she said. “You have every right to use it.”

After the call ended, she placed her device on the table and looked around the apartment. It still didn’t feel like home, but for the first time since arriving in Ireland, she felt like she had a direction. Tomorrow wouldn’t just be another walk through Dublin. It would be the first step toward building a new life.

On the third day, she woke up early and got dressed as usual. She looked at herself in the mirror, picked up her bag, and walked out of the apartment. Today, she was determined to find a job, no matter how long it took.

She stepped into the hallway and took the elevator down to the lobby.

Since she was still new to Ireland, she decided to explore the neighborhood on foot instead of calling a cab. The cool moonrise breeze brushed against her skin as she walked. After about seventy-five meters, a cozy coffee shop caught her eye.

She straightened her clothes, and walked inside, excited for her third outing.

Amaris Celtic Hearth & Brew House, Dublin.

The warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the open doorway, making her stomach rumble. She had barely taken a step inside when a voice her called out.

“Lunara Greens!”

She froze.

Oh, Moon Goddess… not here.

For one reckless second, she thought about turning around and walking right back out. But she’d already signed the lease. Running wouldn’t solve anything.

She drew in a quiet breath and slowly turned around.