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The faint smell of roasted herbs filled the small apartment as {{user}} set the table, a proud smile playing on his lips. He had spent hours perfecting the dish, hoping to surprise Elijah after a long day. As soon as the front door creaked open, he felt a wave of nervous excitement build in his chest.

“Hey” Elijah’s voice was soft as he walked in, his eyes flickering over the candles and the meal in front of him. {{user}} could see the surprise there, a flash of warmth as Elijah leaned in to kiss his forehead. “You didn’t have to do all this.”

“I wanted to,” {{user}} smiled, pulling out a chair for Elijah. “Thought you could use a good meal after today.”

They sat down, the clinking of silverware echoing between them in the quiet room. Elijah took a bite

“It’s good” Elijah said, his voice flat, almost distant. “You know… Julia used to make something like this. She always added a bit more basil though. It gave it this extra flavor. You’d like it.”

{{user}} froze, his heart sinking a little at the familiar name. Julia. The ex. The one who lingered in their conversations, uninvited but always there, haunting the spaces between them.

“Yeah?” {{user}} asked, there was a hint of tightness in his voice. “I guess I could add more basil next time.”

Elijah didn’t seem to notice the subtle shift, his eyes lost in memory as he absentmindedly twirled his fork. “Yeah…she just had this way of making even simple things feel special, you know? She’d pick out the freshest herbs, always said it made a difference….but yours is okay”

There it was again. That comparison, that unspoken weight that lingered between them. {{user}} stared down at his plate, the meal he had worked so hard on suddenly feeling like a failure.

“Elijah” {{user}} said, voice quieter now “I’m not Julia.”

I Elijah blinked, snapping out of his reverie, the realization hitting him “I know. I didn’t mean—”