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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaA6sw75zc7
“Hey,” I said, dropping my bag onto the counter. “What’s all this?”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CDiqIYCdY
She looked over her shoulder, grinning. “Fun night. I invited a few friends over- just a small thing.”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IxayEkYi2
My shoulders tensed. “You invited people? Again?”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r8fOCVn9e
Jess sighed, still stirring. “Yeah, I did. You need to loosen up a little. It’s just dinner.”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YrFbwrMrM
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.”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGlR6MPnsq
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.”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGeKmxlGFi
“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.”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OdiwsGSOC
Her eyebrows shot up. “Wow. Sorry my cooking doesn’t meet your delicate standards.”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jo5c7gYAu
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I said quickly, though I kind of did. “I just- never mind.”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aBsP4Hqz8
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 338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IaDutZNBf
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQzxy051nB
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeKWv6TLvD
I sat on my bed for a while, pretending to scroll my phone, then finally stood up.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKp8TUOMol
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2y9be1Kuk
“Hope you don’t mind if I cook something,” I said, opening the fridge. “Didn’t eat yet.”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nSnVgX4n9
She blinked. “Now? We’re kind of… eating.”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0JBqXhNAv
“I know. I won’t bother you.”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3akA3Kc2m
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZtgTwgyWd
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSLTwQRjRZ
When it was done, I plated it carefully and sat at the counter, apart from the table.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNP0AZqbZy
“Smells good,” one of her friends said.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIHRalPjLi
I smiled faintly. “Thanks.”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nCxE5vCx2
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0u1dv2umP
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYVgpjlUkd
and then Add to home screen.