The apartment felt emptier than usual. The mornings had started blending together during the three weeks Bea had been gone, her absence carving a silence into the space you once shared. You woke up as usual, made your coffee in solitude, and stared at the unmade bed for a moment before fixing it—alone, of course. It was Saturday, a day with no classes, so you planned to fill the time by running small errands. Anything to keep the loneliness from creeping in too much.

The chilly morning air nipped at your face as you walked to the corner store. The sound of your footsteps and the crinkle of a shopping bag filled with bread and other essentials were your only company. You took your time heading back, thinking about how the apartment wouldn’t feel quite right until she was home again. She’d told you her tour would keep her away for a few more days, and the wait had been dragging on.

When you finally unlocked the door and stepped inside, something felt... different. The air seemed warmer, softer, and the faint scent of her favorite vanilla perfume lingered. You turned toward the living room and froze.

There she was. Sitting on the couch like she’d never left, her legs tucked beneath her and one of her old sweaters hanging loosely from her frame.she had the proudest smile playing on her lips as she looked at you, holding a steaming mug in her hands.

“Surprise,” she said softly, her voice carrying a warmth that chased away every ounce of the loneliness you’d been feeling.