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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbjEMXzZFV
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3x90s8vFo
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tSEYuN3la
The message was from Isa.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Tu7GGLEsL
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKJQMAfGda
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW73tvJ9LHY
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8yLDK15iU
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspvdom8aEr
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:111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf0sVFH2RM
“Hey… I was thinking that… if you want, later… you could come over for dinner.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTfAJjmG0p
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngiuySJmF5
I took a deep breath. Now it was my turn to respond.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFH0tML01Lm
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?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdAu169laO
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?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwD0mshrHx
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6jk1D8wOa
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:111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXhvm259RN
“I’d love to.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4D4Zh0OmRz
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡik9M9nHZu8
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGdLW1W98B
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRku3FAZPoD
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5ZtHvnKf2
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcofYInU7o
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:111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcjfm3m2no
“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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFzB864X3M
Isa glanced at me, curious.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLmawXPduh
“No, I didn’t know that,” she replied softly. “Since always?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDjwSRNn2s
“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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllzAGnR6Xo
Isa frowned slightly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqDPbFk7sh
“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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpkyjtkU0I
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAfC9oghj5
I shook my head with a quick smile to lighten the moment.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIF0TiltMth
“It’s okay. It’s just… not something I talk about much.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpurrxXXPhc
Isa nodded slowly and, as if she wanted to rescue the conversation from the awkward silence that had fallen, changed the subject:111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlrFMzmJpb
“And your mom? Do you get along?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzIA3Rq4DC
This time I smiled for real.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZDhfwGA4O
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQJWFk8cJR
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEhUM3JqVJ
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeAZRTiITK
“You look really pretty today,” I suddenly dared to say, in a low voice, almost as if I were speaking to myself.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbWzm0i386
Isa looked at me, surprised, and a faint smile appeared on her face.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtt9Okq5SpQ
“Thank you… you too,” she replied. Her tone was so sincere that I felt an unexpected warmth run through my body despite the cold.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUarTsL2cE
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE0uC4loLg
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsh6fIXNBd
Isa turned to me with a soft smile, as if she noticed my unease.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFEQIA46mH
“Don’t worry,” she said, lowering her voice gently. “Just focus on me, okay?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfYeUnUGL9
I nodded, swallowing. Her words were more comforting than I expected, as if she had read my mind.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kTAjreIhK
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnRlOw1Buf
That last part surprised me, but I didn’t say anything; I wasn’t sure what they would remember about me.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjssJ7XLEkX
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLvuXvpvVV
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQVGKtYfdO
“Liz,” she said warmly as she approached, “it’s a pleasure to see you again.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbAlLHGZBj
“The pleasure is mine, ma’am,” I replied, trying to keep my composure.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOJllnFOf7
“Please, call me Gloria.” Her smile widened. “Isa has told me a lot about you.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0W6kZIcUk
I didn’t know what to say and just smiled, feeling my cheeks warm a little.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsRJb69nkq
“Go up to Isabella’s room while I finish everything. Dinner will be ready soon,” she said kindly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRMkdHNKaq
“Would you like me to help?” I asked out of courtesy, but also because I felt a bit uncomfortable doing nothing.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD3dN6OuBK
Gloria shook her head gently.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasY3dcxJdq
“No, dear, everything is under control. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0Jr9eZFrc
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQJACveGYH
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdbi9IlgXo
“You can sit wherever you want,” she said as she left her bag on the desk.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1HFk0uI0M
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDnr6jKxuv
“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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTozB4OsX1
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YvbOT7lGs
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCXm5kSPah
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhzWlMJMwu
“Do you want something to drink?” she asked casually.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFf9N2IxPZ
“No, I’m fine, thanks,” I replied quickly, maybe too quickly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMPhtdmkkA
She smiled, as if she had noticed my nervousness, and that made me laugh a little at myself.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlem77oxloP
“I don’t know why I’m so…” I stopped, searching for the word.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl8Fe3qurz
“Tense?” Isa said, raising an eyebrow.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2dGtn70H9
“Yeah, that.” I let out a small laugh. “It’s ridiculous, I don’t know why.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiqtd3i9M1
“It’s not ridiculous.” She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Sometimes important things make us feel like that.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTocbqEt0nS
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TevM6gM7U
“You have a very nice house,” I finally said, looking around.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzym3lrGnPl
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJQ0Oabk1y
I stood up and got closer to look at it. The painting was simple, but it had a warmth that caught me.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAYojFKqMo
“You’re very good,” I commented, turning to look at her.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gbW5wUvof
She laughed softly, shaking her head.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdp5Xb1dU3c
“You exaggerate. It’s just a hobby.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUFhkDrcAN
“Well, I think it’s beautiful,” I said without thinking much.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCe7cDuLfU0
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiU3w7Jlmb
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5WoiyhSNn
“Well, you achieved it,” I assured her, playing with my interlaced fingers. “Being here… I don’t know, it makes me feel good.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl38TtW9yX
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqImtZNOozl
Isa broke the silence.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUU5qvwzkN
“I’m glad you came today.” Her tone was so sincere that it made my skin tingle.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgL4IS4Wr8
“Me too,” I replied softly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfeEebGMVA
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09n3gefQoD
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQDsa4jA72
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9a3rbHr5zQ
“Isa…” I began, playing with the edge of the blanket, “don’t you think it’s a bit strange that I’m here?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07UbMGHVri
She raised an eyebrow, tilting her head.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaOr8F5H8D
“Strange? Why would it be?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuUDKTuckL
I let out a short, nervous laugh.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEQEiTCgk0
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXREOYbMve
Isa looked at me for a moment, serious, and then smiled slightly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTh1eMjulmZ
“I don’t know why you’d see it that way. Age doesn’t change what I feel when I’m with you.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEIoKdtQdn
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D53jwURZF
“But… six years is a lot,” I insisted, lowering my gaze.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6XqOiFiCD
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG80NNoENn
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeHjf0M8zz
I laughed softly, nervous again.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP0j8THhTZ
“I don’t know… I overthink things, I guess.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEsWn4pKUL
Isa gave me a light bump with her shoulder.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNpqmhkd5s
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUtyYNHQ8N
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXE2t1yp0x0
Isa smiled slightly, tilting her head, and then, as if nothing, said:111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SME6Xlcy7
“You’re very strange, Liz. You think too much.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MpOIGnUAW
I couldn’t help but laugh softly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNPJnzgOWN
“And is that bad?” I asked, trying to sound amused, even though inside I felt vulnerable.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j7Hj0LGXi
“No, just…” she tucked her hair behind her ear, “I think sometimes you complicate things that don’t need to be complicated.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wGB6Cy0RW
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy35rJGqke9
“I guess you’re right,” I admitted, lowering my gaze slightly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYWALynohS
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YwpEOF8Ii
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAY55ByiGX
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKiVFCRMRU
“It was silly,” I said, laughing. “I was drawing an angry-looking cat, but in the end it looked more like a weird bat.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmJUXCIvfM
Isa laughed too, and that sound made me feel a strange warmth in my chest.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJsPvPuUcg
“I like how you draw,” she commented naturally, disarming me. “Even if it’s a bat disguised as a cat.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPpumQ2foM
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemLjb67m5t
“I guess I’m always doodling something. It’s like my way of not thinking too much,” I confessed.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVxt4rA99U
Isa tilted her head, watching me closely.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAS4xP5p0B
“And does it work?” she asked.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7thoI5Zh7r
I shrugged.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdblcBEkEy
“Sometimes. Other times…” I paused, biting my lip as if deciding how much to share. “Other times I just end up thinking even more.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP8FcyPoS8
She smiled gently.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQCO7L06RV
“Then you should do it here too. I can get you paper and pencils. That way you won’t do it alone.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY0HjLgsp9
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBmwFpVTAD
“You surprise me, Isa,” I said quietly, lifting my gaze to meet hers.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IWTM44hXx
She raised an eyebrow, amused.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFHIyqvKds
“Why?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUgwH1di0C
“Because you make everything seem easy. Like there’s nothing to worry about.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDND63QZSy
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSajEfagvm
“Maybe because with you I don’t feel like I have to complicate anything,” she said, almost like a whisper.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gX83O5Ios
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYf3mFfpAZ
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJPRUvi16Q
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfgNR5wFpI
“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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqyYnQMeEz
Her gesture surprised me; she was kinder than Isa had told me, and she had even thought of me while preparing the meal.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FMwlOkfQg
“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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUwhyQZYRp
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wi8t2Zi0E
“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…”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIWLBIU4lx
I cleared my throat before answering, trying to sound natural.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhNviWHECd
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5sTMV7IDY
Gloria nodded slowly, as if she valued my words.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNudFeCoVIP
“That says a lot about you. You seem like a hardworking and patient person.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6VUCxgg3n
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGGfypWgwX
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUSDHVAqrN
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonTK1SENl2
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE24TYBTapo
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHu9NbI5PCW
“Thank you, Liz, it really wasn’t necessary,” Gloria said as she watched me rinse the cutlery.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGRLnNvAAP
“I like helping,” I replied, and I meant it. “Besides, dinner was delicious, it was the least I could do.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcunG9KSGKB
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1Xz4I2l6u
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OmBgCdirm
“Today was a good day,” Isa said, almost in a whisper, as if talking to herself.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW16hq1JZns
“It was,” I replied without hesitation. “Thank you for inviting me, Isa. You don’t know how good it felt to be here.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchrWQCH8Cz
She looked at me with a soft, almost shy expression, and lowered her gaze.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn72S9a9Ya1
“I’m really glad you came…” she paused for a second. “I didn’t want it to be uncomfortable for you.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYoFMgaDfk
“On the contrary, I felt… at home,” I confessed, surprised by my own words.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZjfcxwsjg
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYoKtuOBvX
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC4zoonqNZ
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSrfTbLLpx
During the ride back, the city seemed quieter than usual. I settled into the passenger seat while Gloria turned on the heater.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoa7ldow2V
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcaGYlw25v
“I really appreciate you having me,” I replied, still emotional. “And… thank you for dinner, it was delicious.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcRlxvlBfE
Gloria smiled while keeping her eyes on the road.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZXOdYapAE
“It shows that Isa likes being with you,” she commented naturally.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFw4OIJZMV6
My heart skipped a beat, and to hide it I just looked down at my interlaced hands.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZlVc7ytj8
“I feel good with her too…” I whispered, barely audible.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R57Q4Bnq2
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wV8ZaM5tj
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLw5kmEZC6
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrfIARDnpc
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbn9JilnN0
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzholpr6c6
“I had a good time with you here, I hope to see you soon and maybe another day you can come again. Rest.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZr1BBDdom
For her it had been a long day, with so many things happening, and I had forgotten.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YDR2TUgq0
“Rest, I really enjoyed this day.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuipDpuey8
Not even ten seconds passed before I got another message.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmsWp8vZCn
“And… would you like to come again another day?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0Qw2jjG03
“As many times as you want.” I replied without thinking too much.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMZ0EBqRJ1
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDGzKo05D5
“Welcome. How was your day?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyUUTV4sMe
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX3sw9fU0C
We both went up to our rooms. I lay down, I wasn’t tired, but I knew I had to work tomorrow.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Lt4iAU8n0
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4ZXlaVgQB
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1q4ENotUz
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCTet9QlXL
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNGFAm1NGW
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTMfsDCuDn
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyTt5wkzNX
“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?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw3Bb2mwcE
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUfKBLUOiC
“Is it really that obvious?” I asked, half laughing.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqNOSqK6wi
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6A0uSESrIN
I laughed a bit more, lowering my voice. “Well… yeah, I guess I had a good day yesterday.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5Ezzj9mFb
He leaned on the counter, interested. “Oh yeah? What did you do?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNodjd2BEc
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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnGyIWWqKE
Will raised his eyebrows, surprised. “Just like that?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZgGKMmwuI
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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77TWDEtM9I
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?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBzeZtXYQQ
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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr6Se013yZ
“Yeah…” I said softly, trying to sound calm. “And I want to go back.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnkFP9rpDZ
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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzuHEfnZxm
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUh6vGdVi5
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdxyV4IGp6
When I brought the dish to his table, I placed it carefully in front of him and said with my usual courtesy:111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRt7IK7QIeJ
“Here you go, enjoy.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3yyKw9pWp
The man looked at the food with disdain and suddenly slammed the table hard.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZ00TbsRTb
“This is not what I ordered!” he shouted in a hoarse, angry voice.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1QjaC6JrP
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnzaGDMpbF
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyfP8Asp19
Then, in an instant, Will appeared and stepped between us, extending an arm in my direction as a sign for me to move away.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbIO7niDny
“Calm down, sir,” he said firmly but without raising his voice. “We’ll sort it out, but please calm down.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCIwbTRBtG
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbN1GIqZ8p
I stood by the counter, motionless, until I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Will.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvVBc2s7T6
“Are you okay?” he asked quietly, with that serious expression I rarely saw on him.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZhw7UKvqw
“I…” I tried to answer, but only a thread of voice came out. “Yeah, I think so.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGShvHl4DoV
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MUwnw5zkk
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZnq04lGXi
“Of course, boss,” he replied immediately.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOvSZ0mgds
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3ooNZqRzm
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iUEGsTn5k
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfk63QpGrk
“You got really scared, didn’t you?” he finally asked, in a low voice, as if afraid of breaking the silence.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeR2j9OegHF
I glanced at him. His eyes reflected a mix of concern and firmness.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTTe3QKckn
“Yeah,” I admitted with a broken sigh. “I didn’t think he would react like that, I just froze.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDrpGl1KMD
“That’s normal. Not everyone can stand firm with someone shouting in their face.” He paused. “You did well not to respond.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPm4Ax95IW
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefjkqhF1wP
Will looked at me and crossed his arms.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxAnCMXJpH
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ97x1Khw68
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpPxVS5bqx
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxKwxCAVKW
“It wasn’t the first time…” I said, almost in a whisper.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDnIEMJlcT
He turned his head slightly, without interrupting me.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZxZZIJHIx
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DqjxwXUrt
Will clenched his jaw, but remained silent, attentive.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx7xPbc79p
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDMIVRX38t
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJsR09oTVo
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaooMeJlDrV
I looked out the window. The streetlights reflected on the glass, distorted by the moisture in my eyes.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D9PrRHI73
“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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlMjntUuAk
I took a deep breath, discreetly wiping my cheeks.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYq69nHijK
“Thank you,” I whispered, barely audible.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCiPtXXAAX
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡru65Ak91i4
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSLFmVxQ9w
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf20PmgWtub
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsM8WB6sRp
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.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dHplqiWBG
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?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdAhXg61Vt
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIb3pIBR6j
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXUihx4lPm
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qSIRwi9v4
“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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HXeflt9q0
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fPsCZ4s7I
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8TXrMRLEP
“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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRkeeXtFqu
I nodded slowly, avoiding holding his gaze too long.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D38ZHIcVM
“Yeah, really. Thanks for walking me, Will. You didn’t have to.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIZgggNhcV
He smiled slightly, as if he didn’t fully believe my words.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QzXLDKTaF
“It’s nothing. But if you ever need to talk… you know where to find me.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeV3Fmwa09
“I know,” I replied in a faint voice, and after an awkward pause added, “Good night.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oL7Juresf
“Good night, Liz. Take care.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0T1u5GqT8
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaYMTzkEDf
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBbzJfMrwY
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzk2d4n8Ih9
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