Maria:
I almost turn back.
Not dramatically. Just a quiet pause at the gate, hand hovering near the bell like I forgot why I came.
It shouldn’t feel like this. It’s just dinner.
But it’s not just dinner.
It’s his space. His world. Somewhere I’ve never really been, even when we used to know each other.
I press the bell before I can overthink it.
The door opens almost immediately.
Daniel.
He steps aside without a word at first, like he already expected the hesitation.
“You’re on time.”
“I try.”
“That’s new.”
I give him a look as I walk in, but it doesn’t land the way I expect. Everything feels… softer here. Less sharp.
The house isn’t cold.
That’s the first thing I notice.
It’s big, yes. Clean. Expensive in a quiet way. But there are signs of actual life — books not arranged
