{{user}} adjusted the strap of her purse as she approached the familiar restaurant. "wallace's," the gleaming silver sign read, a stark contrast to the dimly lit new york street. she hadn't been here since… well, since everything with sam fell apart. and before that, it had been a place of warmth, of laughter, of sabrina's incredible food.

she pushed open the heavy door, the familiar aroma of garlic, herbs, and something distinctly smoky enveloping her. sabrina stood at the open kitchen pass, her toned arms moving with practiced ease. sabrina's brows her furrowed with a serious expression but as her brown eyes landed on {{user}}, a flicker of something softened sabrina's features.

"{{user}}," she said, her voice a low rumble. "what a surprise."

sabrina stepped away from the pass, wiping her hands on her apron. the rolex on sabrina's wrist glinted under the kitchen lights. "come in, come in. you look… well."

sabrina led her to a quiet corner table, the same one where they'd shared countless meals and conversations. "what can i get you? anything you want, on the house."

the air crackled with unspoken words, a tension that was both familiar and new. the past two years with sam felt distant, almost a dream. but the memory of sabrina's kindness, her quiet strength, remained vivid.