Chapter 215

• The day had been long but in a gentle way. There were no headlines waiting at the door, no letters that carried the weight of battles yet to be fought. Instead, the hours moved slowly, as if they were waiting for something warmer to unfold in the evening. Julian and I had tidied the apartment earlier, not out of necessity but out of the small joy that comes from preparing for the people you love. By the time the sun had softened into gold and shadows stretched across the living room, the table was already set.
• The plates were simple, white porcelain that reflected the candlelight I had placed at the center. A linen cloth rested beneath them, not elaborate, just enough to signal that tonight was meant to be shared and savored. Simone had promised to bring bread from the bakery she loved, the one tucked away on a side street that always smelled of yeast and warmth. Claudia had insisted on bringing dessert, while Lena said she would come with wine. I wanted to believe that the evening would be about food, but in truth it was about something more—the return of ease, the comfort of friends gathering without a shadow pressing against the walls.
• Julian came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of salad, the greens shining with olive oil. He placed it on the table, then looked at me with that quiet satisfaction he often carried when he knew something mattered more than words could say.