I walked into the kitchen and was hit with the smell of garlic- thick, sharp, and heavy in the air. Jess was standing over the stove, stirring a pot of something red and bubbling.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgwCEFCXaS
“Hey,” I said, dropping my bag onto the counter. “What’s all this?”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2t21rPwy3
She looked over her shoulder, grinning. “Fun night. I invited a few friends over- just a small thing.”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAHT4tE0oT
My shoulders tensed. “You invited people? Again?”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV4JluQb0u
Jess sighed, still stirring. “Yeah, I did. You need to loosen up a little. It’s just dinner.”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYen5UwFxW
I exhaled slowly, trying to keep my voice calm. “I told you, I don’t like having people over. I come home to relax, not to entertain strangers.”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYBWLl4ZJo
She turned off the burner and faced me, arms crossed, wooden spoon still in her hand. “They’re my friends, not strangers. You act like I’m throwing a party every night.”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMByDZLlLnV
“It feels like it sometimes,” I muttered, glancing at the pot. The sauce looked too oily, too shiny. “And no offense, but that’s the same thing you made last week. It’s kind of… greasy.”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOVjzC91nv
Her eyebrows shot up. “Wow. Sorry my cooking doesn’t meet your delicate standards.”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00Fg22jgH5
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I said quickly, though I kind of did. “I just- never mind.”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2hnYPHxvL
The air between us went quiet, except for the soft bubble of the sauce. Garlic and frustration filled the room. She turned back to the stove without another word, and I stood there, pretending to check my phone, pretending I didn’t already want to disappear into my room and shut the door.
One hour later 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqfBNA47FN
An hour later, the apartment pulsed with noise- laughter, clinking glasses, the scrape of forks on plates. Jess’s friends had arrived, filling the small kitchen with warmth and chatter. I stayed in my room, the muffled sound of it all leaking through my door like static.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvoWGfphdq
The smell of her stew lingered in the air- garlic, oil, overcooked sauce- and for some reason, it made my chest ache. Not because of the food, but because she seemed so at ease out there, surrounded by people, like the world always made room for her.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRygU6MXIS
I sat on my bed for a while, pretending to scroll my phone, then finally stood up.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM4x6l9lpA
When I walked into the kitchen, they all turned to look at me. Jess was laughing mid-sentence, spoon in hand. “Oh, hey,” she said, her tone light but her eyes wary.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXMMU4LeXW
“Hope you don’t mind if I cook something,” I said, opening the fridge. “Didn’t eat yet.”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVLEoj0Xfi
She blinked. “Now? We’re kind of… eating.”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZoC3TNlHe
“I know. I won’t bother you.”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡst6bUqjmvK
I started working quietly- salmon, lemon, basil, a little butter- my kind of comfort food. The pan sizzled, clean and crisp, and soon the smell filled the space, washing over the heavy garlic. Her friends glanced toward me, whispering small compliments about the aroma.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoftDfpznK
Jess tried to keep talking, but her voice had softened. I didn’t look at her; I just focused on the food- the rhythm of it, the care.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrxgSojw7t
When it was done, I plated it carefully and sat at the counter, apart from the table.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1566hvEgv
“Smells good,” one of her friends said.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23UvHIdjDH
I smiled faintly. “Thanks.”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5QxAUc1bR
Jess didn’t say anything, just kept twirling her stew, quiet now. I wanted to look at her, to bridge the small, sharp distance between us- but I stayed where I was, eating slowly, my better food.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSvehgo71Q
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnBSF09E8n
and then Add to home screen.