Jackson sat hunched over a book, his eyes flicking across the pages with a practiced ease. The rain tapped lightly against the window beside him, a soothing rhythm that matched the steady turning of pages. Julia sat across from him, her fingers idly tracing patterns on the table as she listened to an audiobook through her headphones.

"You ever think about why we do this?" Julia asked, removing one earbud and lighting a cigarette. The smoke curled upwards, mixing with the steam from their coffee cups. "Do what?" Jackson responded, glancing up from his book. His voice was quiet, as if reluctant to disturb the peace they had cultivated.

"Sit here, watch the rain, read books. Pretend the world isn't spinning out of control," Julia replied, her eyes focused on the rain-slicked street outside. "Because it’s comfortable. We see things as they are, no illusions," Jackson said, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "And maybe that’s enough."

Julia took a long drag on her cigarette, exhaling slowly. "I suppose you're right. There's something honest about it. No need for pretense." Jackson nodded, returning to his book, the pages a comforting familiarity. "We make our own reality, in this little corner of the world."

Julia smiled, a rare warmth in her eyes. "Let's stay here a little longer, then. Just us, the rain, and a good book." Jackson returned her smile, content in their shared understanding. The world outside might be grey, but here, under the café's warm glow, it was just right.