Finally, my shift ended. For some days, I wouldn’t have to look for the correct size for arrogant customers or answer dumb questions. I couldn’t see another showcase or mannequin. I just wanted to escape from the fashion world.

I took the underground from Oxford Street to Regent’s Park where I saw a thin young man and a muscular one standing in front of a cafe which was a scarlet-bricked building with a round banner that read ‘Magic Cafe’ in cursive letters. Yellow, white, and red flowers on the cafe windows stood out in the rainy and foggy London.

The last time I saw Ramiro and Santiago was at a birthday party many years ago. After high school, we stopped seeing each other with the frequency we used to. Would they have become adults or still be teenagers in adult bodies? Would they be stuck like her with a meaningless job in a shop or be successful with vibrant lives?

First I kissed Santiago,...