Chapter 38

• The following morning, the sun cast its golden rays through the curtains of Gina's bedroom, signalling the start of a new day. Gina stretched lazily in her bed, her mind still filled with fragments of the previous night's events. The kiss with Ralph replayed in her thoughts, leaving her feeling a mixture of excitement and unease. As she rose from her bed, she couldn't help but feel a tingling sensation every time she walked past Ralph, as if an invisible force had suddenly magnified their shared space.
• The atmosphere in the apartment felt different, charged with unspoken tension that hung in the air. Gina tiptoed through the hallway, trying to avoid any unnecessary contact with Ralph. She busied herself in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for herself and their son. The clattering of dishes filled the silence, providing her with a temporary distraction from her swirling thoughts.
• Ralph entered the kitchen, his presence immediately felt. Gina's heart skipped a beat, and she pretended to focus on stirring the pancake batter, desperately trying to conceal her uneasiness. The air seemed heavier, suffused with an awkwardness that neither of them knew how to address.