Tourist — Quick & Reliable

Elias stiffened. "I like to be prepared. I’m only here for three days."

"Three days to see a thousand years of history," she mused. "You’re not a tourist; you’re a ghost. You’re drifting through without touching anything." tourist

Elias was a "proper" tourist. He had the laminated itinerary, the pre-booked walking tours, and a portable battery pack that could jump-start a small car. He had spent months reading travel blogs like The Guardian to ensure he didn't miss a single "must-see" monument. But as he stood on the Charles Bridge, waiting for a sunrise that was currently smothered by a thick, grey fog, the checklist in his pocket felt heavy. Elias stiffened

"It's not coming," she said, her voice raspy. She was wrapped in a wool coat that had seen better decades, holding a thermos. "You’re not a tourist; you’re a ghost

Elias looked at the key, then at his itinerary. Opening shutters wasn't on the list. It would push breakfast back by forty minutes.

"Because you look like you're working a job you didn't apply for," she said. "Go. Be a human, not a guidebook."

"The fog doesn't read the forecast," she shrugged. "You’re the type who likes to be on time, aren't you?"