It was raining heavily that afternoon. Maya sat by the window in a small café, staring outside. She had her notebook with her but couldn’t think of anything to write. She was feeling stuck because her story was due soon.

As she was about to leave, the doorbell of the café rang. A man walked in, shaking the rain off his coat. He looked around and saw that there was no empty table except for the chair across from Maya.

“Can I sit...