The sound of Alex’s laughter filled the small coffee shop, a warm, infectious melody that never failed to make Veronica smile. They were sitting across from each other, nursing their lattes, as they did almost every Thursday afternoon. The little corner table by the window was their spot, a place where the rest of the world seemed to fall away, leaving just the two of them in their little universe.

Veronica watched Alex over the rim of her mug, trying not to make it too obvious that she was staring. Alex’s dark hair was swept up in a messy bun, a few loose strands framing her face in a way that made her look effortlessly beautiful. She was talking about something—probably something funny, given the laughter—but Veronica wasn’t listening. She was too lost in her thoughts, too consumed by the feelings she had been trying to suppress for years.

Alex had always been the outgoing one, the life of the party, the girl who could walk into a room and have everyone gravitating towards her within minutes. Veronica, on the other hand, was quieter, and more reserved. She preferred the background, content to let Alex shine while she watched from the sidelines. It had always been that way, ever since they met back in third grade. Alex was the sun, and Veronica was more than happy to bask in her light.

But somewhere along the way, things had changed. Somewhere between late-night study sessions in high school and spontaneous road trips in college, Veronica had fallen in love with her best friend. It wasn’t something she had planned—she wasn’t even sure when it had started. All she knew was that the feelings were there, deep and unyielding, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get rid of them.

The problem was, Alex didn’t feel the same way. How could she? She had a boyfriend, Aliot, who was just as charismatic and charming as she was. They had been together for over a year now, and by all accounts, they were happy. Veronica had met Aliot several times, and he was nice enough—handsome, funny, and undeniably in love with Alex. He wasn’t the problem. The problem was that every time Veronica saw them together, it felt like a knife twisting in her chest.

“So, what do you think?” Alex’s voice pulled Veronica out of her thoughts, and she blinked, realizing she had missed the entire conversation.

“Sorry, I zoned out for a second,” Veronica said, forcing a smile. “What were you saying?”

Alex rolled her eyes playfully. “I was asking if you wanted to come to the party at Tom’s place this weekend. It’s gonna be a lot of fun—music, drinks, the whole shebang. Plus, you know, Aliot will be there, so I won’t be stuck babysitting a bunch of drunk idiots alone.”

Veronica’s heart sank at the mention of Aliot, but she quickly pushed the feeling down. This was Alex, her best friend, and she would do anything to keep things normal between them, even if it meant being the third wheel at a party.

“Sure,” she replied, keeping her tone light. “Sounds like fun.”

Alex beamed. “Great! I knew you’d say yes. You’re the best, Ronnie.”

Ronnie. The nickname made Veronica’s heart skip a beat. Alex was the only one who called her that, a little reminder of the bond they shared, something special that belonged to just the two of them. But it was also a painful reminder of everything that could never be. Alex didn’t see her as anything more than a friend, and as much as Veronica wanted to change that, she didn’t know how.

The rest of their time at the coffee shop passed in a blur, with Alex chattering on about the party and her plans for the weekend while Veronica nodded and pretended to be interested. Inside, she was a whirlwind of emotions—love, jealousy, and frustration all swirling together in a chaotic storm. By the time they left the coffee shop, she was mentally exhausted.

They walked together toward the parking lot, the evening air cool against their skin. As they reached their cars, Alex turned to Veronica with a smile.

“See you Saturday, okay? And wear something cute! I’m not letting you hide in the corner all night.”

Veronica smiled back, though it felt forced. “I’ll try. See you then.”

She watched as Alex got into her car and drove away, the taillights disappearing into the distance. When she was finally alone, Veronica let out a long, shaky breath. She leaned against her car, staring up at the darkening sky. How much longer could she keep pretending that everything was fine? How much longer could she smile and nod while Alex talked about Aliot, about their future together, about all the things Veronica would never have with her?

It was torture, plain and simple. But what choice did she have? If she told Alex how she felt, it could ruin everything. Their friendship would never be the same. And if Alex didn’t feel the same way—and Veronica was almost certain she didn’t—then things would get awkward and uncomfortable, and eventually, they might drift apart. Veronica couldn’t bear the thought of losing Alex, even if it meant burying her feelings deep inside and pretending they didn’t exist.

But as she drove home that night, Veronica couldn’t shake the feeling that something had to change. She couldn’t keep living like this, in a state of constant yearning and heartache. Something had to give. She just didn’t know what.

The next day was a typical Friday. Veronica went to work at the small graphic design firm where she’d been employed for the past two years. It was a quiet job, mostly sitting at her desk working on logos and marketing materials for local businesses. It wasn’t glamorous, but she enjoyed the creativity it allowed her and the steady paycheck that came with it.

But even at work, she couldn’t escape the thoughts of Alex. She found herself doodling in the margins of her notebook, sketching little hearts and writing Alex’s name without even realizing it. Every time her phone buzzed with a message, her heart would leap, hoping it was Alex, even though she knew it was probably just another work email.

By the time lunch rolled around, Veronica decided she needed a break. She grabbed her bag and headed out of the office, telling her boss she was going to take a walk to clear her head. There was a small park a few blocks away, and she often went there when she needed to think.

As she walked, Veronica tried to focus on the positive. She had a good job, a nice apartment, and a best friend who meant the world to her. But no matter how hard she tried to count her blessings, the ache in her chest wouldn’t go away. She felt stuck, trapped in a situation with no good options.

As she rounded a corner, lost in thought, Veronica nearly tripped over something on the sidewalk. She looked down to see a small, worn book lying on the ground. It was old, the cover faded and the pages yellowed with age. Curious, she picked it up and brushed off the dirt. The title was barely legible, but she could just make out the words: Mysteries of the Arcane.

She flipped through the pages, expecting to see some kind of dusty old history or philosophy book. But instead, she found something entirely different. The book was filled with strange symbols, spells, and incantations. It looked like something out of a fantasy novel, not something she’d expect to find lying on the street.

As she turned another page, a small piece of paper slipped out and fluttered to the ground. Veronica picked it up and saw that it was a bookmark, but not the kind you’d buy in a store. It was handmade, with a string of beads at the top and a few words written in neat, careful script:

For when the heart desires what it cannot have.

Veronica stared at the bookmark, her pulse quickening. She glanced back at the book, flipping to the page where the bookmark had been placed. The page was titled, Love Potions and Elixirs. There were several recipes listed, each one promising to make the object of the brewer’s affection fall hopelessly in love.

She felt a shiver run down her spine. It was ridiculous, of course—nothing but silly superstition. But as she stood there, holding the book and the bookmark, an idea began to form in her mind. What if…?

No, she told herself firmly. That was crazy. Magic wasn’t real. Love potions didn’t exist. But then again, what if they did? What if there was a way to make Alex see her, really see her, not as a friend, but as something more?

The rational part of her mind screamed that it was absurd, that she was being foolish. But the other part of her, the part that was so tired of being alone, so tired of pretending, whispered that maybe, just maybe, it was worth a try.

Before she could think too much about it, Veronica slipped the book into her bag and hurried back to work. She felt a strange mix of excitement and guilt as if she had just made a decision that would change everything. But for now, she pushed those thoughts aside. She would read more tonight, in the privacy of her own home, where she could think things through.

But as she returned to her desk and tried to focus on her work, Veronica couldn’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, she had found the solution to her problem. The key to unlocking Alex’s heart and finally getting what she had wanted for so long.

She just had to be brave enough to use it.