Chapter 47 Forty Seven

• There was something about that morning—too quiet, too calm—that made everything feel a little heavier than usual.
• I couldn’t quite explain it, but it lingered in my chest like a weight I couldn’t name. Still, I tried to shake it off and focus on something simple, something grounding.
• As I finished preparing lunch for Kalix, the feeling wouldn’t leave. I packed the adobo, some warm rice, sautéed vegetables, and a little dessert I’d made earlier. Just like that, it was ready. There was a strange comfort in cooking for him—something that made me feel anchored, even when the rest of me was drifting.