The alarm rang as usual, even though there was no reason to get up early. I had the day off, with no schedules or commitments, but my body was already used to waking up at that hour. I stayed for a while staring at the ceiling, enjoying the silence of the morning and the luxury of not having to rush off to work.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtKsoeGLE0
I made coffee without any hurry, had breakfast while looking out the window, watching people pass by in a rush on the sidewalk. I had nothing planned; maybe read a little, tidy up the house, waste time. It wasn’t unusual to have a whole day just for myself, although it also felt… empty.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogQTwJVSED
I spent the first hours drifting between small things: answering emails, folding clean clothes, putting on some background music. Nothing seemed really important. And then my phone vibrated.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYostzOQr0s
The message was from Isa.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEeAp9Ms02
I didn’t think too much about it: as soon as I read that she wanted to see me, I felt something like a spark in my chest. I changed quickly, bundled up well, and went out into the street. I walked at a hurried pace, with that feeling of doing something that wasn’t planned but that, suddenly, seemed like the only thing that mattered.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyIpetOP5u
When I arrived at the museum and saw her waiting for me, I smiled without meaning to. There was something in the way she looked at me that calmed me, even when I arrived with my heart racing. We went together to the food stands in front of the museum, ordered tacos, and sat on the concrete benches.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsx1yJNgOR
Being with her was easy. I don’t usually open up much with people, but with Isa the words came out effortlessly. She spoke enthusiastically about her work, about the tours she guided, and I couldn’t stop watching her: the sparkle in her eyes, how she gestured while speaking. She seemed happy in her world, and I… I felt happy just being there with her.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvvwiMZpFX
I heard myself say that I was glad she had texted me, and as soon as I said it, I realized how vulnerable it sounded. But I didn’t regret it. There was something about Isa that made me want to be honest, even if that meant exposing myself.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuTvthPy6p
Time passed too quickly. Isa checked her phone and told me she had to go back for the next tour. I didn’t say anything; I didn’t want to seem pushy. I stood up after her when her voice caught me completely off guard:110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYWufYv1jG
“Hey… I was thinking that… if you want, later… you could come over for dinner.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iLvap7t8f
I stood still, processing what I had just heard. Her nervousness was obvious: she lowered her gaze and adjusted her coat with trembling hands. The cold wasn’t the only thing making my heart beat so fast.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqfRGkUMXw
I took a deep breath. Now it was my turn to respond.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1x7zMIcXy
The rest of the tour passed in front of me like a blur. I walked beside Isa while she spoke fluently to the visitors, pointing at artworks, telling stories… but I barely listened. My mind couldn’t let go of her words: “Do you want to come over for dinner?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT0f7Tl4mv
Every now and then I pretended to look at the paintings, but all I saw was the image of her, nervous, adjusting her coat while waiting for my answer. I bit my lip, trying to imagine what that invitation meant. Was it just kindness? A way of thanking me for keeping her company? Or something more?110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YZm4UUFuj
The doubt pricked me like a thorn, but beneath all that there was something stronger: the genuine desire to say yes. I didn’t want to go home that night, I didn’t want to return to my empty routine when I could stay a little longer by her side.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJhZaF7Wc0
When the tour ended and the last visitors dispersed, Isa turned to me with a nervous smile, as if she was still waiting to hear my answer. I felt my heart pounding in my ears. I took a breath, met her gaze, and without hesitation said:110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIO0CnQ5cDW
“I’d love to.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey7ibKbsRi
The sparkle in her eyes upon hearing me erased any remaining insecurity. Her smile widened, warm, and I felt a wave of relief run through my body. Maybe I had been overthinking it. Maybe the right thing had always been simply… to say yes.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvdfQUZ3ot
Isa nodded softly, as if she didn’t want to break the moment, and invited me to wait for her while she said goodbye to her coworkers. I stayed there, leaning against the museum wall, feeling that the afternoon had completely changed color.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBBG1b3EU1
We left the museum when the sky was beginning to turn shades of orange and gray. The cold air wrapped around us immediately, making me zip my jacket almost up to my chin. Isa walked beside me, her hands tucked into the pockets of her coat. She looked calm, but I could notice a certain stiffness in her shoulders, as if the nerves that were eating at me were also reaching her.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡov7hDZVVUA
We didn’t say anything at first. Our footsteps echoed on the damp sidewalk tiles, and the distant sound of traffic accompanied us like a backdrop. I felt strangely aware of every detail: the vapor of our breaths in the air, the slight brush when our arms came close while walking, the soft perfume she wore that the wind carried to me from time to time.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlX9k4hIyc
Isa looked beautiful. The beige dress peeking out beneath her long coat moved gently with each step, and her hair fell loose over her shoulders, illuminated by the dim light of the streetlamps that were just beginning to turn on. There was something elegant and simple about her, something that made the world around seem to blur a little.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3ySWf4Ryt
I wanted to speak, but every time I opened my mouth, the words got stuck in my throat. What could I say? “I’m nervous because I like you” didn’t seem like a great idea. But the silence was starting to weigh, so I took a deep breath, gathered all the courage I could, and spoke:110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjK2tZsHT8
“I live alone with my mom, you know?” I said, breaking the calm. My voice sounded a little louder than I wanted, so I lowered my gaze and forced a smile.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡve638tqPLy
Isa glanced at me, curious.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqEaddGSVC
“No, I didn’t know that,” she replied softly. “Since always?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnBgv6e6jj
“Since I can remember. Dad… was never around much.” I shrugged. I didn’t want to go into details, but my own voice faded as I mentioned it.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5sJYgYCvH
Isa frowned slightly.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K7RDFAteb
“And he…?” she started to ask, but stopped when she noticed the involuntary expression I made, that shadow of sadness I couldn’t hide. Her gaze softened.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUP0uYgn6hQ
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2PQZcDI9v
I shook my head with a quick smile to lighten the moment.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPumI1yZZU
“It’s okay. It’s just… not something I talk about much.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyCmstiRap
Isa nodded slowly and, as if she wanted to rescue the conversation from the awkward silence that had fallen, changed the subject:110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAz7XN0N43W
“And your mom? Do you get along?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4hDku63Jv
This time I smiled for real.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzwmHWZNds
“Yeah, pretty well. She’s like my best friend sometimes… although she can be very strict. She takes care of me too much. I guess it’s normal, just the two of us.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S6z0ui96o
As I spoke, I realized my nerves were starting to fade. Isa listened attentively, with that calm of hers that seemed to wrap around me like a blanket. And I kept talking, telling her small anecdotes: how my mom always leaves too many notes stuck on the fridge, how sometimes I get lost playing and spend hours without noticing.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ8x5w7n8j
The walk to her house felt shorter than it should have, even though we didn’t stop walking in silence at times. During those moments, I allowed myself to glance at her. I liked how the dark coat framed her figure, how the dress seemed to highlight the softness of her skin. The wind moved a few strands of her hair and I felt the urge to brush them away with my fingers.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLB251vf3K
“You look really pretty today,” I suddenly dared to say, in a low voice, almost as if I were speaking to myself.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgLiAYSMWF
Isa looked at me, surprised, and a faint smile appeared on her face.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDYjHpGHm6
“Thank you… you too,” she replied. Her tone was so sincere that I felt an unexpected warmth run through my body despite the cold.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPnTHyJA3t
We kept walking, more relaxed. I felt different, as if simply being by her side made everything else fade away: the noise of cars, the cold, the routine. It was just the two of us, getting closer to her house, and I couldn’t help thinking that I wouldn’t forget this day easily.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5HZaeCU80
When we finally arrived at her house, my heart was beating stronger than usual. The facade was elegant, with a small well-kept garden in front and warm lights illuminating the entrance. I felt a knot in my stomach as I followed Isa to the door; I didn’t know why I was so nervous, but I was.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKUtlU2cka
Isa turned to me with a soft smile, as if she noticed my unease.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeQCJSr157
“Don’t worry,” she said, lowering her voice gently. “Just focus on me, okay?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmCvPtpvRP
I nodded, swallowing. Her words were more comforting than I expected, as if she had read my mind.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpAoh1Z7J6
“I already told Mom you were coming with me,” she continued while looking for her keys. “She’s happy to meet you… well, to see you again.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY7PbYuhOt
That last part surprised me, but I didn’t say anything; I wasn’t sure what they would remember about me.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLblo9mLFc
The door opened and we went inside. The house was spotless, decorated in warm tones, with paintings on the walls and a delicious aroma coming from the kitchen. The whole atmosphere was cozy, but I still couldn’t help feeling a little out of place.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopiKfvVVxJ
Isa left her coat on the rack and helped me with mine, then gestured for me to follow her. We walked a few steps and then her mother appeared from the kitchen. She was a woman with an elegant presence, her hair tied up and a kind smile that immediately eased my nerves a little.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV2SXNh6fs
“Liz,” she said warmly as she approached, “it’s a pleasure to see you again.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4bvQocuFV
“The pleasure is mine, ma’am,” I replied, trying to keep my composure.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QOU7LKE2I
“Please, call me Gloria.” Her smile widened. “Isa has told me a lot about you.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKDippiNN0
I didn’t know what to say and just smiled, feeling my cheeks warm a little.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zkR70KXpk
“Go up to Isabella’s room while I finish everything. Dinner will be ready soon,” she said kindly.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5lQKxB21T
“Would you like me to help?” I asked out of courtesy, but also because I felt a bit uncomfortable doing nothing.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqgmFHWTkI
Gloria shook her head gently.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeW69XlGs9
“No, dear, everything is under control. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FD52orV9s
Isa looked at me and smiled slightly, gesturing for me to follow her upstairs. I let myself be guided while still processing the warm, family-like atmosphere of her home. Every corner was tastefully decorated, framed photos, well-cared-for plants, and details that made the place look like something out of a magazine, but with that personal touch that made it cozy.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeuvX1GAF2
When we entered her room, I felt a bit more at ease. It was a spacious place, with a neatly made bed, shelves full of books, and some paintings on the walls that seemed to be painted by her. There was something in that room that smelled like Isa: not just her perfume, but her calm and orderly essence.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQgeXJYl3D
“You can sit wherever you want,” she said as she left her bag on the desk.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVNLIYuPsz
I sat on the edge of the bed, trying to hide my nervousness. She leaned against the wall, crossing her arms, and watched me with a soft smile.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGujjjFUkn
“You don’t have to be tense, Liz. You’re at home,” she said, and for some reason those words made me feel truly welcome.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSWhVKsbyh
The discomfort I had carried from the museum slowly faded. Just being there, with her so close, made my mind calm down. I realized I was living a moment I had imagined in silence more than once, but never thought would happen so soon: me, sitting in Isabella’s room, listening to the distant sound of her mother cooking while she looked at me with those serene eyes that seemed to see everything.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqwsE51XcV
I shifted a little on the bed, crossing my hands over my legs so as not to show how much my fingers were trembling. My heart was pounding in my chest, but at the same time there was something incredibly comforting about being there, as if this was the place I should have reached a long time ago.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6ZkTRUdjR
Isa dropped into her desk chair and turned slightly to look at me. There was a comfortable silence, although I still felt the need to fill the air with something, anything. But she spoke first.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBhi5msEPm
“Do you want something to drink?” she asked casually.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxf6PkrrOw
“No, I’m fine, thanks,” I replied quickly, maybe too quickly.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARtNmM7smk
She smiled, as if she had noticed my nervousness, and that made me laugh a little at myself.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMmYbWecks
“I don’t know why I’m so…” I stopped, searching for the word.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0Own1aCT4
“Tense?” Isa said, raising an eyebrow.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzzrwggSh8
“Yeah, that.” I let out a small laugh. “It’s ridiculous, I don’t know why.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyLs8vvdVt
“It’s not ridiculous.” She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Sometimes important things make us feel like that.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcwFaH4kIU
I bit my lip, surprised at how easily she could say things I struggled even to think. I kept watching her, her calm movements, the way she seemed to own her space and, at the same time, share it with me without hesitation.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQtIMZZghH
“You have a very nice house,” I finally said, looking around.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLOqxxxMMF
“Thanks.” She shrugged. “My mom is the one who makes sure everything looks like this, although some things are mine.” She pointed to one of the paintings on the wall. “I painted that a few years ago, when I was obsessed with sunsets in orange tones.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWo8Cc4IopB
I stood up and got closer to look at it. The painting was simple, but it had a warmth that caught me.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGN0nNRs31
“You’re very good,” I commented, turning to look at her.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlgvIEhkaA
She laughed softly, shaking her head.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VmNnYyQEn
“You exaggerate. It’s just a hobby.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLBhtgvuyu
“Well, I think it’s beautiful,” I said without thinking much.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXQs6ysgW5
Isa held my gaze for a few seconds, as if my words had weighed more than they should. I felt a strange flutter in my stomach and quickly sat back down, trying not to make a big deal out of it.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJVGplCoKe
“You know?” she continued in a calm voice. “I’ve always liked the idea that someone could come here and feel comfortable. I don’t like when houses feel like places where you can’t even move without being afraid of ruining something.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm6r7jujZ3
“Well, you achieved it,” I assured her, playing with my interlaced fingers. “Being here… I don’t know, it makes me feel good.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG5UeUSSjR
There was a pause that didn’t feel uncomfortable, but rather like a space where words weren’t necessary. I could hear her mom’s laughter from the kitchen, mixed with the clinking of utensils, and all of it made the scene feel so domestic, so intimate, that it was hard to process.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYywrD8T0X
Isa broke the silence.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuGuoZOPlm
“I’m glad you came today.” Her tone was so sincere that it made my skin tingle.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfX9IUO1Cf8
“Me too,” I replied softly.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyW1eERFuws
We stayed looking at each other for a moment, and for the first time I didn’t try to avoid her gaze. It was as if time had slowed down, as if that small room had become a refuge just for us.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVPDeoBBtg
I didn’t know if she felt the same as I did, but at that moment it didn’t matter. What mattered was being there, sharing a piece of life that, for me, already had more meaning than I was willing to admit out loud.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tauyp6RSf
I shifted slightly on the bed, gathering courage to say what had been on my mind. Isa looked at me with that calm of hers that always seemed to invite me to speak, but I still had to swallow before daring.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lENyC5kOJ
“Isa…” I began, playing with the edge of the blanket, “don’t you think it’s a bit strange that I’m here?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKssvlRGdTS
She raised an eyebrow, tilting her head.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeJDAc6xv5
“Strange? Why would it be?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NzjSiMRvS
I let out a short, nervous laugh.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CfnPiv7HI
“Well, because… I’m twenty-five, and you’re nineteen. Sometimes I feel like I’m… invading your world, or that maybe your mom thinks it’s strange that I’m getting so close to you.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkYGIfOQ6D
Isa looked at me for a moment, serious, and then smiled slightly.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRM2XTcIi4
“I don’t know why you’d see it that way. Age doesn’t change what I feel when I’m with you.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk8RlM0ace
Her words surprised me more than I expected. I had asked the question fearing an uncomfortable answer, but she said it so naturally that it left me defenseless.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBDsdqKpI4
“But… six years is a lot,” I insisted, lowering my gaze.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsQ9HnTtXx
She stood up from the chair and sat beside me on the bed, so close I could feel the warmth of her arm brushing mine.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9Yw5DIfAB
“Six years isn’t that much, Liz.” Her voice was soft but firm. “My mom doesn’t see it as strange either, believe me. If she did, she wouldn’t have welcomed you with that smile.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFWlJoqGrM
I laughed softly, nervous again.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40okqVJ8zG
“I don’t know… I overthink things, I guess.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXxgl8D8yN
Isa gave me a light bump with her shoulder.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEhmWasFWe
“Yeah, I think so.” Her lips curved into a playful smile. “I, on the other hand, prefer to stay with what I feel right now, and what I feel is that I like having you here.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRao7tJnPe
I felt my cheeks heat up, but instead of looking away, I held her gaze. There was so much confidence in her, in her words, that my doubts began to fade, as if suddenly the age difference was just a minor detail compared to what we were sharing.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBMFMDST1S
Isa smiled slightly, tilting her head, and then, as if nothing, said:110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lA8gTpyCB
“You’re very strange, Liz. You think too much.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5SCqMdsct
I couldn’t help but laugh softly.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtXbpx2W0G
“And is that bad?” I asked, trying to sound amused, even though inside I felt vulnerable.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbUQzyj3ss
“No, just…” she tucked her hair behind her ear, “I think sometimes you complicate things that don’t need to be complicated.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwYoZWLGai
Her words were simple, but they reached me like an unexpected relief. It was so Isa: direct, without detours, capable of dismantling my insecurities with a couple of calm sentences.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWBYcgEDTq
“I guess you’re right,” I admitted, lowering my gaze slightly.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1w9b6i4JC
She smiled with that calm of hers, as if everything I was seemed natural to her. And then she changed the subject, lightly, as if what we had just talked about didn’t need more thought.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MWSaojKbW
“Tell me,” she said, dropping into the chair in front of her desk, “what were you drawing the other day on the napkin? I was curious.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOF3DdUhgnf
I laughed, surprised. The memory of that silly moment at the café eased the tension in my body. I leaned back on the bed and started telling her, gesturing more than I thought. And as I spoke, I realized I was starting to feel truly comfortable there, in her world, as if there had been a space reserved for me even before I arrived.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrL8acYLFn
“It was silly,” I said, laughing. “I was drawing an angry-looking cat, but in the end it looked more like a weird bat.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzfQU9brgg
Isa laughed too, and that sound made me feel a strange warmth in my chest.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNK303Pn5v
“I like how you draw,” she commented naturally, disarming me. “Even if it’s a bat disguised as a cat.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRgMOPHN60
I lowered my gaze, pretending to adjust the sleeves of my jacket. I wasn’t used to someone noticing those small things, much less stopping to appreciate them.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEcn1RqLxu
“I guess I’m always doodling something. It’s like my way of not thinking too much,” I confessed.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRX2eaSnfc
Isa tilted her head, watching me closely.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Fz8DcE9s9
“And does it work?” she asked.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeyOOIoduU
I shrugged.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzFIvLp7bA
“Sometimes. Other times…” I paused, biting my lip as if deciding how much to share. “Other times I just end up thinking even more.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkWZmVMncy
She smiled gently.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mGglV8UlS
“Then you should do it here too. I can get you paper and pencils. That way you won’t do it alone.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AHzFu9CUA
I felt a knot in my throat, as if her words had touched something I hadn’t wanted to acknowledge. No one had ever offered me something so simple and, at the same time, so close.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRetLcYelZ8
“You surprise me, Isa,” I said quietly, lifting my gaze to meet hers.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkcDuPwTWR
She raised an eyebrow, amused.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeFOTwjhKs
“Why?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkNjkU8RGO
“Because you make everything seem easy. Like there’s nothing to worry about.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EwFT1pIVa
Isa stood up from the chair and stepped closer, stopping just a step away from the bed. She didn’t touch me, didn’t do anything out of place, she just looked at me with that serenity that seemed to wrap everything.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GmALgNoli
“Maybe because with you I don’t feel like I have to complicate anything,” she said, almost like a whisper.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCInW6jKJVh
I stayed silent, my heart pounding hard in my chest. I didn’t know what to say, so I just smiled, hoping that would be enough to tell her what I couldn’t put into words.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3ZHyW33yS
The sound of footsteps in the hallway brought me back to reality. Gloria’s voice was heard from downstairs, gently calling us to say that dinner was ready.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseS3ag7IXt
We went down the stairs, with Isabella a few steps ahead of me. The house was quiet, just the three of us. In the dining room, Gloria had prepared roasted moose meat accompanied by a potato and carrot salad.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSNNlF4Nom
“I wanted to prepare something typical from Whitehorse. Since I didn’t know what you like, I preferred not to take risks,” she said with a warm smile.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxE0EWUpRY2
Her gesture surprised me; she was kinder than Isa had told me, and she had even thought of me while preparing the meal.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4a1S1Cnmk
“Thank you, you didn’t have to go to the trouble. I’m sure whatever you made would have been delicious,” I replied sincerely, although my voice sounded a bit more formal than I wanted.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx66Z3HZ64K
We began to eat, and for a few minutes only the sound of cutlery could be heard. The meat was tender, and the salad, simple but tasty. I found myself enjoying it more than I had anticipated.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhN5WXibZi8
“Liz, what is it like working as a waitress?” Gloria asked with genuine interest. “I always think it must be a tough job, a lot of people, changing schedules…”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnICW815V91
I cleared my throat before answering, trying to sound natural.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWclwBnlMZ
“Yes, it can be tiring. There are days when I end up with my feet aching and others when I’m more exhausted from smiling than from serving. But it also has its good side… you meet people, you learn to deal with unexpected situations and, I don’t know, I think it makes you stronger.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMsHrCadHF
Gloria nodded slowly, as if she valued my words.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRRBrZlJPJ
“That says a lot about you. You seem like a hardworking and patient person.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUKNvq7hY5
I felt warmth rise to my cheeks and looked down at my plate. I wasn’t used to that kind of praise, especially coming from the mother of someone I had just begun to know.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQjpjoz6Vk
Isabella, on the other hand, smiled as if her mother’s comment had made her happy. That gesture eased something in my chest; seeing her proud of me was a strange but beautiful feeling.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVIH7zWMoo
I kept eating in silence for a few seconds, letting them talk a bit, and meanwhile my thoughts tangled. It was strange… me there, sharing a table with Isa and her mother, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. There was something in that scene that moved me deeply: the warmth of the home, the soft complicity between mother and daughter, and the way Isa would look at me from time to time, as if to make sure I was comfortable.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPrFjBVnnS
It was a simple dinner, but to me it meant much more. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like a strange guest, but like someone who belonged, even if only for that night.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5IZSaPqvi
When we finished dinner, I offered to help Gloria with the table. At first she insisted it wasn’t necessary, but I didn’t feel comfortable sitting while they worked, so I took the plates and brought them to the kitchen. Isa did the same, following me with a complicit smile that made me feel less awkward in that family routine that wasn’t mine.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4WITrTWHf
“Thank you, Liz, it really wasn’t necessary,” Gloria said as she watched me rinse the cutlery.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHo7S5fb9yY
“I like helping,” I replied, and I meant it. “Besides, dinner was delicious, it was the least I could do.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37f8amD7iV
Gloria smiled with that calm that made me feel accepted, and we continued with brief chats and comments about how good the moose meat had turned out.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4HtZ9GekT
After putting everything away, Isa suggested going upstairs to her room for a while longer. I accepted without thinking, grateful to extend the night a bit. Back in her room, we settled as before: me on the edge of the bed, her in her chair, elbows resting on the desk.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2ltNtDKmf
“Today was a good day,” Isa said, almost in a whisper, as if talking to herself.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxndJFeYOE
“It was,” I replied without hesitation. “Thank you for inviting me, Isa. You don’t know how good it felt to be here.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGGOmX4wsd
She looked at me with a soft, almost shy expression, and lowered her gaze.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8mzml0Hjx
“I’m really glad you came…” she paused for a second. “I didn’t want it to be uncomfortable for you.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdArvgbH6k
“On the contrary, I felt… at home,” I confessed, surprised by my own words.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc90L5OiT8z
There was a short silence, filled with something I couldn’t describe. I fidgeted with my hands to hide how nervous I was, until a soft knock on the door brought us back to reality. It was Gloria, announcing that it was late and that she could take me home if I wanted.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4VANBxpuH
I gathered my things slowly, secretly wishing Isa would ask me to stay a little longer, even though I knew she couldn’t. We went down together to the entrance, where my coat was already waiting on the rack. Isa helped me put it on and, before opening the door, she looked at me for a few seconds. She didn’t say anything, she just leaned in and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hfx7u4pzV
The gesture was brief, but for me it meant more than I could admit. I felt my skin burn exactly where her lips had touched, and I barely managed to respond with a nervous smile before following Gloria to the car.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87HaHhlf6s
During the ride back, the city seemed quieter than usual. I settled into the passenger seat while Gloria turned on the heater.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6r4Epppaq
“I’m glad you came,” she said suddenly, with a sincere tone that caught me off guard. “Isa doesn’t usually invite many people home.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZHT36vcfx
“I really appreciate you having me,” I replied, still emotional. “And… thank you for dinner, it was delicious.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoH6PCJZNso
Gloria smiled while keeping her eyes on the road.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvx25Y7IDsz
“It shows that Isa likes being with you,” she commented naturally.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1SUiR2UX6
My heart skipped a beat, and to hide it I just looked down at my interlaced hands.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNE0IlOfFv
“I feel good with her too…” I whispered, barely audible.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHnvN3Otmx
The rest of the ride I spent looking out the window, watching the lights reflect on the snow piled at the side of the street. I smiled without realizing it, and every time I remembered the kiss on the cheek, I felt warmth spread through me again. It was as if the night had been etched inside me, in every gesture and every word.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmUsAkbrEa
That night, on the way home, I understood that something had changed. It wasn’t just a dinner or a simple invitation. It was the beginning of something that, although I still couldn’t define, made me feel more alive than ever.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC5cGnmN94
We arrived home and I said goodbye to Gloria, before she left when I was just about to go inside the house I heard her say “I hope to see you again soon, you’re welcome” I admit it made me happy but I couldn’t stop thinking about Isabella, I know it was a normal kiss, but it had made me feel that the little space we still had between us had disappeared, I felt close to her.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbInSoftls6
I went inside and my mom wasn’t home yet. I felt in a good mood, so I decided to wait for her anyway; I wasn’t sleepy anymore.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurz91TXOEv
I took out my phone to text Isa that I had arrived, that her mother was on the way back, but once again she had beaten me to it.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrFQkz5Z1o
“I had a good time with you here, I hope to see you soon and maybe another day you can come again. Rest.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY0r0QPZxv
For her it had been a long day, with so many things happening, and I had forgotten.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOqw3pIizr
“Rest, I really enjoyed this day.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU60zNthuWY
Not even ten seconds passed before I got another message.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJQ5PIUNxp
“And… would you like to come again another day?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHBWmRAFdT
“As many times as you want.” I replied without thinking too much.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviLNNCfzBY
I left my phone on the table and tidied up the living room a bit to pass the time. It wasn’t even an hour before Mom arrived.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW50NCj1jO9
“Welcome. How was your day?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkXCausVTD
She looked at me with a strange expression, but it didn’t matter, I was still in a good mood. We talked for a while about her day; she was exhausted, apparently it had been a very busy one. I didn’t want to keep her long, so I gave her a quick summary of mine: the museum, the food, and the night at Isabella’s house. She asked me to thank Gloria for bringing me home.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfadKBZeZg2
We both went up to our rooms. I lay down, I wasn’t tired, but I knew I had to work tomorrow.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71mFUdHnLH
The next morning I woke up without an alarm, much earlier than usual. The light coming through the window filtered in softly, and for the first time in a long time I stayed in bed for a few minutes without rushing, simply remembering details from the night before: the warmth of Isa’s house, the way Gloria treated me so naturally, and, above all, the moment Isa gave me that kiss on the cheek. Thinking about it still brought a silly smile to my face.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPLnskRh9u
I got up calmly, made a light breakfast, and played some soft music on my phone while I tidied up my room a bit. It was one of those days that seemed to start without hurry, with calm, as if everything were in order. I used the morning to read for a while and then call Mom to see how she was doing at work.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5asACrHk2
Around noon I had something simple for lunch, nothing complicated, and stayed a bit longer in the kitchen washing dishes and glancing at the clock. I knew that at three I had to head to the restaurant, so by two thirty I was already ready, with my clean uniform and my hair tied up.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzyuT6ZiJd
The trip was routine, and when I arrived at the place I felt the usual familiarity: the bustle of diners, the smell of freshly made food, and the voices of my coworkers amid the coming and going of trays and plates. The four o’clock shift began without anything special. I served tables, took orders, brought drinks, cleared empty plates. Some customers were kind, others impatient, the usual.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbXVwzeMln
It wasn’t a different day from so many others, but I lived it with a different disposition, lighter. Even in the middle of the repetitive routine of work, there was a part of me that kept shining with the feeling of having experienced an important moment in life. And, although customers came and went without anything changing, I knew something in me had.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTQkKv38et
The restaurant was somewhat quieter. There were a few tables occupied and I was finally able to set the tray down on the counter, giving myself a break. I was arranging some napkins when I heard Will’s voice beside me.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiGbry9rDt
“Hey, Liz,” he said with a half smile while placing clean glasses on the shelf. “You look different today. I don’t know… lighter. Did something good happen?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbUIAzDp7w
I looked at him for a moment, unsure whether to answer, but his curious look was too genuine to ignore. Will had always been kind to me, someone I could talk to without feeling judged.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOS99GsWhU
“Is it really that obvious?” I asked, half laughing.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDBUmEzyR6
“Of course it is. You usually come into your shift with that ‘here we go again’ face,” he joked. “Today it looks like you’re even enjoying being here.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fAWhgAsrE
I laughed a bit more, lowering my voice. “Well… yeah, I guess I had a good day yesterday.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodv8WLT30i
He leaned on the counter, interested. “Oh yeah? What did you do?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71tZao1uxk
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and took a deep breath. I didn’t want to sound too excited, even though inside I still felt like everything was happening all over again. “I went to the museum to see a friend… we ended up eating together and then she invited me to her house. I met her mom and we had a really nice time.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CJBw3AEzv
Will raised his eyebrows, surprised. “Just like that?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbDKxWf9dG
I nodded, smiling without being able to help it. “Yeah… it was unexpected, but I felt really good. I don’t remember the last time I was in a place that warm.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YoE6rSYev
I took my phone out of my pocket and opened the messages. I hesitated for a second, but in the end I showed him. The last chat glowed on the screen: “I had a good time with you here, I hope to see you soon and maybe another day you can come again.” followed by my reply, and then the message Isa had sent: “and… would you like to come again another day?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW47vDQB26f
Will read it quickly and looked at me with an amused smile. “Well, well… that sounds like you’ll be going back more than once.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGCsZNfqEb
“Yeah…” I said softly, trying to sound calm. “And I want to go back.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCqgQ1tBht
He gave me a small friendly bump on the shoulder. “I’m not surprised you’ve got that happy face. Hold onto it, Liz. It shows this is good for you.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXNWWXpKAk
I put my phone away and nodded, still with that smile that didn’t seem to want to fade. The noise of the restaurant surrounded us again, but inside I kept thinking about how easy it had been to tell him, and how right he was: yes, it was very obvious how good it made me feel.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRHaYS5XKn
It was nine thirty and the movement in the restaurant was starting to die down. The atmosphere had that constant murmur of plates, low conversations, and the noise of the kitchen in the background. I had been assigned a table in the corner, a man who had just come in already looked out of place. His clumsy movements, heavy gaze, and the smell of alcohol gave him away. Even so, I tried not to pay too much attention. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had drunk more than they should before dinner.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hzIJVX6GG
When I brought the dish to his table, I placed it carefully in front of him and said with my usual courtesy:110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljG77DLZkc
“Here you go, enjoy.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBlbxCNgGi
The man looked at the food with disdain and suddenly slammed the table hard.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibM4WTv0dS
“This is not what I ordered!” he shouted in a hoarse, angry voice.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45uhWxJTq4
I froze. I felt everyone turn to look, the murmur of the restaurant died in seconds. I stammered a “I’ll check it right away,” but before I could move, he stood up abruptly.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHpoLz4HWB
My heart hammered in my chest. The man got too close, his face flushed and his gaze unfocused, and I stepped back, unable to react.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3wYZc0js1
Then, in an instant, Will appeared and stepped between us, extending an arm in my direction as a sign for me to move away.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1GXBRKaQ1
“Calm down, sir,” he said firmly but without raising his voice. “We’ll sort it out, but please calm down.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1DcDK7F1s
I backed away clumsily until I bumped into the counter, my hands shaking so much I could barely hold the tray. The customer kept protesting, raising his voice, but between Will and the shift manager they managed to control him. After a few minutes that felt eternal, they got him to leave, staggering, under the uncomfortable gaze of everyone present.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFp7cojTYbY
I stood by the counter, motionless, until I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Will.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVl0crsiQU
“Are you okay?” he asked quietly, with that serious expression I rarely saw on him.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1OvT0lIyg
“I…” I tried to answer, but only a thread of voice came out. “Yeah, I think so.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxIW7KPA6i
But it wasn’t true. I was pale, with cold fingers and a knot in my stomach that wouldn’t let me breathe properly. The boss came over, looked at me for a second, and shook his head.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzA2PxfMUY
“Liz, that’s enough. You don’t have to keep working. Will, walk her to the bus stop. There’s not much left of the shift and I want her to get home calmly.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJIwcPaiTe
“Of course, boss,” he replied immediately.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCqvWp1yjl
I took my bag from the locker room with trembling hands. Even as I walked out the door, I could still hear the echoes of the shouting in my ears. Outside, the cool night air hit my face, but it wasn’t enough to erase the fear still running through my body.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JwXXbEVMe
Will walked beside me in silence, as if he understood I couldn’t talk yet. And I… I just wanted to leave that moment behind, even though I knew it would take time to forget.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdmqwTGhko
The cold night air helped me breathe better, although my hands were still trembling. We walked toward the stop almost in silence, the streetlights barely illuminating the path. Will kept a calm pace beside me, without pressuring me.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehWSYTRgAa
“You got really scared, didn’t you?” he finally asked, in a low voice, as if afraid of breaking the silence.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbP9aagLqr
I glanced at him. His eyes reflected a mix of concern and firmness.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHWVZeqXA6
“Yeah,” I admitted with a broken sigh. “I didn’t think he would react like that, I just froze.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvwCJ04i14
“That’s normal. Not everyone can stand firm with someone shouting in their face.” He paused. “You did well not to respond.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AN7IR8ZxW
I nodded, although I still had a knot in my throat. We reached the stop and the wind blew strongly, making me pull my coat tighter around me. The bus could be seen in the distance, approaching with its lights on.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjKGWwgqJX
Will looked at me and crossed his arms.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA8KkYZs05
“You know what? I’m not going to leave you alone tonight.” Before I could say anything, he added with a slight smile, “My shift was almost over anyway, I can go with you, no problem.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAmeWfTY9g
I didn’t have the strength to argue. When we got on, there were few passengers scattered in the seats. We walked to the back and sat side by side. The engine started and, for a moment, only the rattling of the bus moving along the empty street could be heard.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGWnnoB2Bk
I fidgeted with my hands, uncomfortable, with that feeling that I had to say something. Will watched me out of the corner of his eye, without pressuring me. Finally, the words came out on their own.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92WhmeKvIT
“It wasn’t the first time…” I said, almost in a whisper.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mxs9kWp7I
He turned his head slightly, without interrupting me.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBvvotXFFV
“When I was in high school,” I continued, “something like this happened all the time. Not with customers, of course, but… with people who took advantage of me.” I paused, swallowing. “It was almost every day: mockery, insults, people yelling at me, making me feel like I was worth nothing.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTU87KlF7NJ
Will clenched his jaw, but remained silent, attentive.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4DXRBKGWv
“It went on for years,” I continued, my voice trembling. “Years of hearing horrible things, of feeling small, of believing that… that I deserved it. And even though it’s over, even though I finished school and my life changed, I feel like all of that stayed with me.” I placed a hand on my chest. “Like I can never completely erase it.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjNmLINS16
Tears began to slide down, soft and silent, and I did nothing to stop them. I wasn’t sobbing loudly, but as if my body needed to release, finally, some of that weight.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJspoWWYHQ
“What happened today… it was just a reminder that it still affects me. That I’m still that girl who freezes when someone yells at her. And I think that’s something that will stay with me forever.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCYHu8fO2s
I looked out the window. The streetlights reflected on the glass, distorted by the moisture in my eyes.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW04rqU9UOh
“Liz…” his voice sounded calm, firm. “Just because something marked you doesn’t mean it still has power over you.” He looked at me directly, with that honesty that can be uncomfortable. “What happened today wasn’t your fault. You’re not weak for being scared, or for remembering what you went through.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlYh9Ul4cL
I took a deep breath, discreetly wiping my cheeks.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ1SO8tBYc
“Thank you,” I whispered, barely audible.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljgf57HI8o
He didn’t say anything else, but let my shoulder rest against his. That simple, warm, wordless gesture was enough to make me feel a little less broken.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMq8Ei7il3
The bus continued on its way and I couldn’t help thinking about the contrast. Yesterday, at Isa’s house, everything had been different: warmth, soft laughter, the smell of food, her mother treating me as if she had known me forever… and, above all, Isa looking at me with that calm that made my heart slow down. There I had felt safe, as if that was my place.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCGlETylkN
And now, with the fresh memory of a shout that made me tremble, I understood even more how much it had meant to be there. With Isa, I felt safe.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBvzdn4Z2F
The bus kept moving, the city lights flickering through the window, and I stayed silent, trying to calm the trembling in my hands. I had cried a little, enough for the pressure in my chest to ease, but not enough to feel free. It never quite was enough.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPCG07bCd1
I rested my forehead against the cold glass and, without meaning to, my mind went back to the day before. The warmth of Isa’s house, the kindness of her mother’s voice, Isabella’s calm smile as she told me I could feel at home… that sense of belonging I hadn’t felt in years. For a moment, a thought slipped out that startled me: “With her I feel safe. With her I could be okay.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAzgkQyJMU
The idea hit me so hard that I blinked, as if trying to chase it away. Had I really thought that? Was I really starting to believe I could find refuge in someone?110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOQbyNmjss
But just as it came, the thought faded, drowned out by the shadows of my past. The voices returned: the shouting in the school hallways, the cruel laughter, the whispers that cut like knives, that certainty that no one would stand up for me. Years of mocking looks, of feeling invisible or, worse, feeling that everyone saw me only to tear me down.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTKVPoW4rR
And the most painful part was admitting that, deep down, I had started to believe them. That those words had become part of me, like a second skin impossible to remove.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYFM5gLDIX
I pressed my hands against my knees, swallowing the knot in my throat. Will was beside me, present, steady, but not even his company could erase what burned inside. I appreciated it, of course I did, but the pain was mine, part of me, and I carried it in silence.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilqvlUOB6K
“With Isa I feel safe…” crossed my mind again, like a stubborn echo that refused to disappear. And although that idea gave me a bit of warmth in the middle of so much darkness, it also scared me. Because if there was one thing life had taught me, it was that everything good eventually ends.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOB491UZrQ
So I stayed silent, letting the hum of the bus and the distant lights be the only things filling the emptiness of my thoughts. On the outside I seemed calm, but inside, the battle still hurt.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08mPNBu7Ek
When the bus stopped at the corner of my neighborhood, Will stood up with me. Outside, the cold night air hit my face, bringing me back a bit. We walked a few steps in silence until we reached in front of my house.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV635VcNcnM
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” he asked, looking at me with that mix of concern and restraint that made me uncomfortable and comforted at the same time.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8oVSW3SDg
I nodded slowly, avoiding holding his gaze too long.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaRF4ZaDir
“Yeah, really. Thanks for walking me, Will. You didn’t have to.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE70vw1VPJT
He smiled slightly, as if he didn’t fully believe my words.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOlQYuVkDg
“It’s nothing. But if you ever need to talk… you know where to find me.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdlBVc1oBy
“I know,” I replied in a faint voice, and after an awkward pause added, “Good night.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIYud6KmDB
“Good night, Liz. Take care.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATbpBpRhZT
He waited until I opened the door before leaving. I entered the dim house; Mom was already asleep. Everything was in order, as always, but to me it felt empty. I closed the door softly and went upstairs straight to my room, without turning on the hallway lights.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg2sut8gAk
I let myself fall onto the bed still dressed. I didn’t feel like doing anything: not changing, not thinking, not even crying again. I felt the same weight as always, the one that seemed to follow me even in the calmest moments.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoywXWplSrA
I stared at the ceiling in silence, with the dark room and the echo of everything that had happened floating in my head. It was like becoming the same person as before, trapped in a fatigue that wasn’t physical, but something deeper. I closed my eyes hoping that sleep, at least, would give me some relief.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwimefcmsr
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