Chapter 86

Vera

I knew coming home would take some adjustment. I just didn’t expect to get ambushed the second we hit the ground.

In my head, the transition was simple: land, shake off the jet lag, slip quietly back into our old habits, both of us a little softer after nine days just being together. We’d unpack, make coffee, renegotiate the daily rituals of sharing space. Maybe we’d order takeout and let the