The airplane landed with a soft thud, and Zinnia felt her heart quicken as the wheels touched the ground. She clutched her bag tightly, her thoughts swirling.
After weeks of being away, all she could think about was getting home—and seeing Samuel. She had waited so long to return, imagining their reunion, but a small voice in her head reminded her not to expect too much.
As soon as the plane taxied to a stop, Zinnia was one of the first to get up. She grabbed her carry-on, her steps hurried as she made her way through the terminal. The moment she stepped outside, the familiar air of her home country filled her lungs. It was comforting, yet something felt missing.
A taxi ride later, Zinnia stood in front of the house she and Samuel shared. Her hands trembled slightly as she fumbled for her keys. She unlocked the door and pushed it open, stepping inside. The house was quiet—eerily quiet. The kind of quiet that made her chest tighten.