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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZ0RO1qoyQ
“Hey,” I said, dropping my bag onto the counter. “What’s all this?”66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO4kem0aX9
She looked over her shoulder, grinning. “Fun night. I invited a few friends over- just a small thing.”66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpB8s6oWP26
My shoulders tensed. “You invited people? Again?”66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyTJqWGNnr
Jess sighed, still stirring. “Yeah, I did. You need to loosen up a little. It’s just dinner.”66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlas3WzR6MY
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.”66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EdazB2dL8
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.”66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT9RJiL4Ad
“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.”66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISGxMVenMM
Her eyebrows shot up. “Wow. Sorry my cooking doesn’t meet your delicate standards.”66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2Eh9cUOlB
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I said quickly, though I kind of did. “I just- never mind.”66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVr7zRqb19
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 66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCmaa4N4kH
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDD9lasxRM
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUG5REB7jG
I sat on my bed for a while, pretending to scroll my phone, then finally stood up.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN4vIa2TXd
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XWh3p86QX
“Hope you don’t mind if I cook something,” I said, opening the fridge. “Didn’t eat yet.”66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ar4lMEuAB
She blinked. “Now? We’re kind of… eating.”66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMcXYvJyHL
“I know. I won’t bother you.”66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uObh2xOGI
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1A6zFhM9a
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXGKGx8h89
When it was done, I plated it carefully and sat at the counter, apart from the table.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdjcrpoZGp
“Smells good,” one of her friends said.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRNtRLbhR5
I smiled faintly. “Thanks.”66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zi5SqWKEn
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.66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwQ5WqJKX0
66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxTbkfZKGj
and then Add to home screen.