The universe seemed to warp around me as I stood, frozen, in the produce stall, while the fluorescent lights hummed in perfect sync with the thrum of the nearby espresso machine. Across from me, two women huddled behind a pyramid of organic apples, their conversation about sustainable farming methods and gluten-free diets a soothing, if slightly too loud, background chatter. My eyes locked onto the woman I'd accidentally walked into while rushing to buy lunch, her expression a mixture of shock and embarrassment. I reached out to help her steady the precarious stack of pears, but before I could, she brushed it away and fled, leaving behind the faint scent of jasmine soap and a half-eaten bagel. The apple-sustainable discussion continued, now accompanied by the awkward silence I'd left behind.
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