CHAPTER NINE

Nora's week was tough, like walking through sticky mud. She sent texts to Caleb's friends and coworkers about his funeral, but most didn't answer. Some said a fast "sorry," and that was it. It stung her heart, but she was too busy to cry. She wrote a special message to Jessica, their neighbor who loved Caleb like a son. Her hands shook as she typed, "Funeral's Friday. Can I visit soon?" Jessica texted back quick: "Come over, Nora. Anytime." Nora nodded to herself, planning it in her head, while her mind spun with a million things.

She had guitar class at 11 a.m. She strummed her guitar until her fingers hurt. The music loft had old wooden floors that squeaked under her sneakers. The air smelled like dust and coffee. Then, cooking class at 3:30 p.m. She smelled garlic and lemon as she cooked. Pots banged, and her knife went thwack when she cut carrots. In between, she worked on funeral stuff...calling the community center, checking the lilies, reading Reverend Patel's script three times. Her job was waiting too. On Monday, she'd sit at her desk, writing stories, acting like she wasn't sad. It wasn't a bad life, but it felt heavy, like next level heavy . She'd been trying to be strong lately...no more asking why Caleb cheated or why he died. She was tired of arguing with the world. But wow, it wore her out.

On Thursday morning, she sat at the kitchen table. The air smelled sweet from her mom's pancakes, all buttery and warm. Sunlight came through the window, shining on the scratched table. Ellie, her sister, bounced in. Her curly hair was a big mess, and she wore a baggy sweatshirt with a ketchup stain. She flopped into a chair and grabbed a pancake. Syrup dripped on her fingers. "Nora, you look all serious again," Ellie said, teasing. She licked her thumb with a loud slurp. "Smile, or I'll put syrup in your hair!"

Nora rolled her eyes, but a little smile came out. "Don't you dare, you troublesome kid." She sipped her coffee. The mug felt warm in her hands, and the bitter taste woke her up. "Mom, Ellie, you have to be on time for the funeral tomorrow. No messing around please."

Her mom turned from the stove, holding a spatula. Her apron had flour all over it, like snow. Her brown eyes were soft, like Nora might break. "We'll be there, sweetie," she said quietly. "But you're going to Caleb's place alone today? Are you sure that's okay?"

Nora's tummy twisted. "I'm okay, Mom. I have to do it." She put her mug down with a loud clink. "I love you guys, but you worry too much. I'm eating dinner with Jessica tonight, so don't stress, alright?"

Ellie leaned over the table, her elbows making it sticky. "Jessica's nice, but are you sure you're fine alone? That place is full of Caleb stuff."

Nora laughed, but it sounded weak. "I won't fall apart, Ellie. I promise." Her mom kept staring, her eyes full of worry, and Nora got annoyed. "Mom, stop looking at me like I'm gonna break! I'm fine, honestly." She stood up fast, a bit mad, and grabbed her bag. It was black, stuffed with funeral clothes, her diary, and a water bottle. "See you tomorrow."

Her mom walked over and hugged her. "Okay, Nora. We love you." Her sweater smelled like vanilla and home. Nora hugged back, feeling softer. Ellie jumped in too, her sticky fingers touching Nora's arm. "You're strong, sis," Ellie said quietly. Nora smiled, her throat tight, and left.

The drive to Caleb's apartment was calm. Her car's engine made a soft hum, and the atmosphere started to clear, showing bits of blue sky. She parked on his street. The houses were colorful...pink, green, teal like candy. His building was pale yellow, with chipped steps and a rusty mailbox leaning over. She walked up, her boots scraping the wood, and opened the door. Inside, the air smelled like Caleb's pine cologne, old books, and something old, like time stopped. His guitar sat by the couch, covered in little dust. His flannel shirt hung on a chair, soft and faded. Her chest hurt, but she felt a weird sense of calm, like the apartment was holding her.

She dropped her bag and went to the bathroom. The tiles were cold on her feet. She turned on the shower, and it hissed as steam came up. It smelled a little like his mint shampoo. She stood under the hot water, letting it wet her hair and shoulders, washing away the week's heaviness. After, she put on a comfy black jumpsuit...soft, loose, but tight at the waist and braided her wet blonde hair. She looked in the mirror. Her eyes were tired, but she stood tall. You can do this.

Jessica's house was two blocks away...a cute blue cottage with a small porch. Wind chimes jingled in the breeze. Nora knocked, her knuckles hitting the old wood. Jessica opened the door. Her silver hair was down, and she wore an apron over a dress with flowers. "Nora, honey!" she said, giving her a big hug that smelled like rosemary and soap. "Come in!"

The living room was warm and cozy. There was a saggy couch with a quilt on it, a coffee table with gardening magazines, and a lamp glowing yellow. The air smelled like yummy roast chicken from the kitchen, mixed with a bit of lemon. "Sit," Jessica said, pointing to a soft armchair. The fabric was old but comfy. "You look tired, sweetie."

Nora sat down, the chair creaking. "It's been a lot," she said, her voice quiet. "Jessica, are you coming to the funeral tomorrow?" The words popped out before she could stop them.

Jessica stopped moving. She twisted a dish towel in her hands and looked at the floor. "Oh, Nora…" she said, then stopped. She messed with some napkins instead. "You're so strong, you know? Always have been. I always thought you and Caleb had a sweet love."

Nora's heart dropped. She doesn't want to say. She felt bad for asking...Jessica loved Caleb so much. And Nora couldn't tell her about Caleb cheating. The words stayed stuck, heavy in her throat. "Thanks," she said, faking a smile. "He was… special."

Jessica smiled big and changed the subject. "Help me with dinner, okay? You're so good in the kitchen now." Nora laughed, feeling better, and followed her. The kitchen was small, with yellow walls, pots hanging up, and a radio playing soft jazz. They cut carrots together. The knife went thump on the board, and the orange pieces looked bright. Jessica stirred mashed potatoes, all creamy and steamy. Nora added rosemary to the chicken pan, and it sizzled loud and warm. "You're great at this," Jessica said, bumping her with an elbow. Her glasses slid down her nose.They ate at a little table. Their plates had golden chicken, fluffy potatoes, and crunchy carrots. The food was warm and yummy, and Nora felt her shoulders relax. Her mood got better, like fog going away. "This is so good," she said, her fork scraping the plate. Jessica grinned, her eyes wrinkling. "You helped, silly."

While they ate, they talked about tons of stuff. Jessica's garden had tomatoes turning red. Nora's job had a boss who kept calling her "Nadia" by mistake. Ellie was obsessed with baking cakes that came out crooked. "She's a mess with flour," Nora said, laughing. Jessica laughed too, a deep, happy sound. Nora felt light, like she could breathe easy again.

After, they cleaned up. Plates clinked in the sink, and soap bubbles popped. Jessica gave Nora a towel to dry with. Their hands touched, and Nora felt thankful. "Thanks for tonight," she said softly. "I really needed it."Jessica hugged her tight. "You're family, Nora. Always." She walked her to the door. The night air was cool, and stars peeked through clouds. "Sleep well, okay?"

Nora nodded and waved as she stepped outside. She didn't go to her car yet. Instead, she walked down the street. Her boots clicked on the pavement, and streetlights made soft golden spots. The air smelled like wet grass and salty bay water. This was their street...she and Caleb used to jog here. Her ponytail would bounce, his sneakers would scrape, and they'd laugh, out of breath. She could almost see him now, grabbing her hand to twirl her under a light, his breath warm as he said, "You're my favorite, Mickey Mouse." Her eyes got watery, but she kept walking. She passed the store where they got ice cream, the bench where they kissed, the tree where their initials were carved...faded now in the bark. The memories hurt, but they were hers, and she kept them close, like the pendant on her chest.

She stopped at a bench by the park. The wood was wet from the dues, and her jumpsuit stuck to it a little. She sat anyway. The street was quiet...just far-off car sounds and leaves moving in the wind. She leaned back, looking at the stars. Her breath made little clouds in the cold air. Then she heard footsteps. A guy came over...tall, with messy dark hair and a black jacket. He sat on the other end of the bench, hands in his pockets."Pretty night," he said. His voice was low and a bit rough. He looked at her. His eyes were warm brown, like coffee with milk.

Nora jumped a little, surprised. "Oh, yeah. It's… nice and calm." She moved a bit, not sure, but he seemed nice, not weird.

"Can I sit here?" he asked, even though he was already sitting. He grinned a little. "I just moved in down the street. Figuring out the place."

"Oh, hi," Nora said, being polite. "It's a good spot. Quiet, but near stuff."

He nodded and leaned back. His jacket made a soft sound. "I'm Alex. Alex Carter."

"Nora," she said, giving a small smile. "Nora Smith." She didn't know why she paused...nobody knew her story.

"Nice to meet you, Nora Smith," Alex said. His grin got bigger. She saw a dimple on his cheek, and his hair kept falling in his eyes. "What's the best place around here? For coffee or food?"

Nora thought a sec. "There's a café on the corner...Brew & Chew. Awesome coffee, and their muffins are giant. Like, as big as a softball!"

Alex laughed, a warm, happy noise. "Softball muffins? I'm in! I'll try it." He looked at her closer. "You look like you had a big day. You okay?"

Nora's smile went away a little. "Yeah, just… lots happening." She didn't want to tell a stranger everything, but his eyes were nice."Okay," he said, not asking more. "I get it. Moving's crazy too...boxes all over, missing socks, all of that. If you know what I mean."

She giggled. "Missing socks are awful. They're probably hiding somewhere, making plans."

"I know right?" Alex said, snapping his fingers as if he'd just figured out something. "It's a big sock plot. They're watching us!"

Nora laughed hard, surprised at herself. "You're funny," she said, shaking her head. "I needed a laugh."

"Happy to help," he said, pretending to bow while sitting. "So, Nora Smith, what do you do when you're not thinking about sock attacks?"

"I write," she said, her voice quieter. "For magazines. Stories about people."

"So cool," Alex said, nodding. "I take pictures. I'm freelance, so I'm always looking for work."

"That sounds fun," Nora said. She pictured him with a camera, snapping pretty sunsets or busy streets. "What kind of pictures?"

"People mostly," he said. "Their stories. Everyone's got one."

Nora's throat got tight. Yeah, they do. She kept talking to keep it light. "What's the weirdest thing you've shot?"

He grinned, thinking.

"Ummmmm"

"Once, a guy with a pet lizard. It sat on his head the whole time. Kept sticking its tongue out.

"Nora laughed again. "That's wild! Did it stay still?"

"Barely," Alex said. "It flicked me once. I think it liked me."

"You must be so brave," she said, smiling big. "I'd run from a lizard."

"Nah..., you'd totally charm it," he said, winking. "You've got that vibe."

She blushed a little. "Thanks, I guess. What else do you like around here?"

"Just exploring," he said. "Found a cool tree with initials carved in it. Love stuff like that...little secrets in the world."

Nora's heart skipped. Our tree. She kept her face normal. "Yeah, those are special. This place has lots of little things like that."

"Tell me one," he said, leaning closer, curious.

She thought fast. "There's a store nearby. Sells the best ice cream. They make it fresh...chocolate's my favorite."

"I think I like you already. Chocolate's the king," he said, nodding. "We should grab some sometime. My treat."

Nora smiled, surprised. "Maybe. I'll think about it."

"Cool," he said. "No rush." He stretched, his jacket jingling. "So, you're from here?"

"Born and raised," she said. "You?"

"New guy," he said. "Moved from the city. Needed a slower spot."

"It's slow here in a good way of course," she said. "Good for thinking."

"Or meeting nice people," he added, grinning. "Like you."

She laughed softly. "Smooth talker, huh?"

"Only when it's true," he said, his dimple showing again.

They kept chatting. He told her about losing a shoe in a moving box. She told him about Ellie's goofy cakes. The night got colder, but she didn't mind. Finally, she checked her watch. "I gotta go," she said, standing. "Early day tomorrow."

He stood too, his jacket zipper clinking. "Great meeting you, Nora. Maybe I'll see you at that café?"

"Maybe," she said, smiling. "Welcome to the neighborhood, Alex Carter."

He waved, and she walked to her car. The fog was thick around her. Her heart felt a bit happier, like a little sunbeam broke through. Tomorrow was the funeral, but tonight, she met a guy with a dimple and a fun laugh. It was small, but it mattered. Not like she She was interested in that kind of way. Yes she needed to explain herself.

She stopped at her car and took a deep breath. Tomorrow would be hard, but she'd handle it...for Mom, Ellie, Jessica, and even Caleb, who loved her, even with his mistakes. And maybe for a new guy who made her smile. She felt a tiny spark of strength, like a light in the dark.