3 Thanks for dinner

Confusion etched across Alex's face as Emma stood at his doorstep, her greeting echoing in the stillness of the night.

"Hello!" Emma greeted, her presence raising questions in Alex's mind.

"Hello, madam!" Alex responded, his confusion evident.

In a brave move, Emma initiated an apology for her earlier intrusion.

"About this morning, I'm sorry about that," Emma expressed, acknowledging the abrupt encounter that had left both of them unsettled.

Alex, feeling a sense of responsibility, replied, "I am the one to apologize for entering someone's house."

Emma, however, had a different perspective, "My daughter told me everything that happened last night. Thanks for taking care of me and Lily."

"It's nothing," Alex shrugged, downplaying his role in the unexpected events.

Unfazed, Emma felt the need to express her gratitude. With a genuine smile, she handed over a container of homemade food, "I must thank you, so I made some food for you!"

As Alex attempted to decline with a simple "No thanks," Emma insisted, handing him the container with a touch of force. In this exchange of words and gestures, the sincerity of their connection grew.

As Emma prepared to leave and Alex was about to close his door, she turned, her question lingering in the air.

"You didn't tell me your name?" Emma inquired, a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes.

"I am Alex," he replied, a simplicity in his response that echoed the quiet complexities of his world.

"I am Emma. I hope we will be good friends!" she said, mirroring the smile that had become a familiar presence on Lily's face.

In that brief exchange of names and a shared hope, a seed of connection was planted, growing amidst the ordinary surroundings of a quiet apartment corridor.

As Alex indulged in the homemade dish, a taste of heaven touched his senses, unraveling a forgotten pleasure that had been absent from his life for years.

With each bite, memories of his grandmother, the one who had once crafted delicious meals for him, flooded back. A single tear escaped his left eye, a silent tribute to the warmth of the past.

Quickly wiping away the tear, Alex continued savoring the food. The flavors carried the essence of comfort, a stark contrast to the usual monotony of his meals.

After relishing every last bite, Alex rested on his bed, basking in the afterglow of a meal that had brought both nourishment and nostalgia.

Happy moments from the day replayed in his mind, rare gems in the tapestry of his life. The laughter of Lily, the genuine smile of Emma, and the unexpected camaraderie—they were fragments of a day that stood out in stark relief against the ordinary.

As he scrolled through his mobile, trying to fill the quiet moments, a familiar interruption came—his mother's call. With a practiced ease, Alex silenced the call, the persistent echoes of past demands losing their grip on his present.

Messages from his mother followed, ignored by Alex, who chose to preserve the tranquility of the moment.

With the morning sun casting a warm glow and birds orchestrating a symphony, Alex woke up to a new day. His mobile, a silent witness to the night's messages from his mother, greeted him with a sense of possibility.

Determined to change the course of his life, Alex rose early, channeling the newfound energy into crafting a job application. With hope in his heart, he submitted the application, taking a step toward a future he dared to dream of.

As he readied himself for his part-time job, a sense of purpose infused each action. The container, a silent messenger of gratitude, awaited its return to Emma.

Opening the door, Alex noticed Emma and Lily were also preparing to face the day. Approaching them, he greeted the morning with a container in hand.

"Good morning, uncle!" Lily's cheerful voice echoed, her smile as radiant as the morning sun.

"Morning!" Alex replied, the exchange becoming a daily ritual that brightened his mornings.

Returning the container to Emma, he expressed his sincere appreciation for the previous night's meal.

"It's too much to compliment," Emma modestly deflected.

Undeterred, Alex asserted, "No, honestly, I enjoyed the food after so many days."

"Really? How about eating it every day?" Emma proposed, a spark of enthusiasm lighting up her eyes.

"No! It's too much for you," Alex insisted, a sense of concern for her well-being evident in his response.

"Nah, just try it!" Emma urged, her optimism contagious as they prepared to embark on their respective journeys.

"Bye, uncle!" Lily bid farewell, her infectious smile lingering in the air.

"Bye!" Alex replied, a sense of warmth settling within him as the morning unfolded.

As the evening unfolded, and Alex completed his shift, a perceptive eye noticed a subtle shift in his demeanor. Sophie, his work colleague, couldn't help but remark, "You seem happy today."

Alex, caught off guard by the observation, feigned confusion. "What?"

"Normally, you would be as dull as a deadpan. But today, you seem energetic. Anything good happened?" Sophie inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"Well, it's nothing," Alex replied, reluctant to unveil the nuances of his changing emotions, and he left the staff room, the echoes of Sophie's words lingering.

On his way home, Alex noticed a peculiar shift in Mia's demeanor, prompting him to hasten his pace. As he attempted to overtake her, Mia called out to him.

"Wait," Mia's voice reached him, and Alex, still confused, stopped in his tracks.

In a hesitant yet genuine manner, Mia asked, "You live in the same apartment as me, right?"

"Yes," Alex replied, still trying to make sense of the situation.

"Can I walk along with you until we reach home?" Mia requested, a subtle fear in her eyes.

"Ok," Alex agreed, the confusion still evident in his demeanor.