Raw & Ruined: Short Romantic Sins
Chapter 1: The Match
Ella Ramirez leaned against the counter at Brew Haven, the late Tuesday afternoon lull dragging like molasses. Rain streaked the Portland café's large windows, turning the gray sidewalk into a blurry watercolor. At 19, juggling community college graphic design classes and barista gigs, Ella thrived on these quiet moments—sketching customers or scrolling her phone for inspiration. Today, though, boredom won. She pulled up SparkMatch, the addictive new dating app hyped on her For You page. "Real connections, real sparks," the tagline teased.