<em> A Meal for Two </em>


    <em>Eliza looked at him and asked softly, “But have you ever thought… maybe living in the past is a kind of pain </em>


    <em>100?” </em>


    <em>“I have.” Soren replied. “But it doesn’t matter. For her, it’s the only way to escape that pain.” </em>


    <em>He had tried to talk her out of it </em>


    <em>“Come on, let’s head inside.” </em>


    <em>more than once. But it never ended well. </em>


    <em>He led her into the house, and they settled into the guest lounge. From the kitchen came the warm hum of singing – Mrs. Hayes was cooking, and clearly in good spirits. </em>


    <em>After Eliza took her seat, Soren handed her a te. </em>


    <em>Mrs. Hayes seemedpletely at ease in the kitchen, humming a soft melody as she prepared the meal. The tune drifted through the air, gentle and nostalgic – something about it felt oddly familiar to Eliza. </em>


    <em>Then it clicked. </em>


    <em>She’d heard this song before – Nn used to y it while cooking at home. </em>


    <em>So this was the original voice… it had been Mrs. Hayes all along. </em>


    <em>“What’s wrong?” Soren noticed her zoning out. </em>


    <em>Eliza shook her head. “It’s nothing.” </em>


    <em>A momentter, Mrs. Hayes appeared with dishes in hand and a beaming smile on her face. </em>


    <em>“Eliza, sweetheart, you’re so thin! Eat, eat! I made this all for you.” </em>


    <em>She eagerly piled Eliza’s te with food. </em>


    <em>“Thank you.” </em>


    <em>The table was filled with homestyle dishes – simple, warm,forting. Just looking at them made Eliza’s appetite.spark. </em>


    <em>“I want to try everything,” she said with a grin. “But I won’t be able to finish it all… can I take some home?” </em>


    <em>“Of course you can!” Mrs. Hayes said happily. “Next time, just tell me what you like, and I’ll make it all for you!” </em>


    <em>Her fond gaze never left Eliza. She was glowing with affection. </em>


    <em>Soren sat quietly nearby, studying Eliza’s face, as if searching for something beneath her calm expression. </em>


    <em>After dinner, Eliza carefully packed up the leftovers. </em>


    <em>“I’ll walk you out,” Soren said, rising to his feet. </em>


    <em>“That’s okay. I can get a cab back.” </em>


    <em>“You’re going to see Nn, aren’t you?” </em>


    <em>The question cut straight through her. </em>


    <em>“…You already knew?” </em>


    <em>“I’ll take you.” </em>


    <em>Before she could protest, he’d already opened the car door and gestured for her to get in. </em>


    <em>“Come on. I’ll drive you.” </em>


    <em>With no other choice, Eliza climbed into the passenger seat. </em>


    <em>She wasn’t sure how Nn would react. Seeing Soren drop her off? That definitely wasn’t going to make him happy. </em>


    <em>As they neared Nn’s ce, Eliza cleared her throat and said awkwardly, “Soren, you don’t have to- </em>


    <em>“I’m not going upstairs.” </em>


    <em>. He cut her off coolly. “I don’t want to see him.” </em>


    <em>Eliza looked over at him. In profile, Soren shared a few simrities with Nn. </em>


    <em>“You know,” she began, “he still sees you all as family. If the two of you talked–maybe things would be different.” </em>


    <em>“There is no ‘maybe,” Soren said tly. “He’s not my family. Not now, not ever.” </em>


    <em>They pulled up in front of Nn’s home. </em>


    <em>Just as the car stopped, the lights in Nn’s room went out want to be seen. </em>


    <em>– </em>


    <em>as if he’d realized who had arrived and didn’t </em>


    <em>Maybe he thought Mrs. Hayes hade too. </em>


    <em>“You can go,” Soren said. </em>


    <em>“…Thanks.” </em>


    <em>Eliza got out, watched Soren drive off, then walked up to the front door. She tried her fingerprint door unlocked immediately. </em>


    <em>“Who is it?” came Nn’s wary voice from the dark. </em>


    <em>Eliza stepped into the living room and switched on the light. </em>


    <em>Nn blinked in surprise. “Eliza?” </em>


    <em>She held up the food she’d brought grinning. “Why’s it so dark in here? Were you hiding?” </em>


    <em>Nn emerged slowly. “Soren brought you?” </em>


    <em>“Yeah.” </em>


    <em>She set the food on the table. I brought this for you. Have you eaten?” </em>


    <em>― </em>


    <em>and the </em>


    <em>He turned his head. “Not hungry.” </em>


    <em>“Really?” </em>


    <em>“I said no.” </em>


    <em>Eliza popped open the containers. “Well, I think you should eat. Just try a bite.” </em>


    <em>She pushed the food toward him. </em>


    <em>Nn looked down at the dishes clearly reluctant. </em>


    <em>– </em>


    <em>“I brought it just for you,” she said softly. “Come on. Have some for my </em>


    <em>At that, he finally sat down and picked up his chopsticks. </em>


    <em>It wasn’t that he didn’t want to eat. </em>


    <em>He was just a little butthurt, knowing she’de back with Soren. </em>


    <em>sake.” </em>