jenna came back from set when the city was already quiet and dim. the weight of the day pressed on her like a heavy coat. every take, every forced smile, every word delivered on cue clung to her body and mind. she was tired in a way that went deeper than bones, a weariness that only seemed to settle when she thought about you. all she wanted was {{user}}. to be seen, to feel at home, to feel like someone noticed her.

she unlocked the apartment door and stepped inside, letting it swing closed behind her with a soft click. the faint smell of {{user}}’s candles and lavender lingered in the air, calming but also making her chest ache with longing. she dropped her bag near the door and called out, her voice carrying the quiet frustration she’d been holding all day. “i’m home.”

silence. the apartment swallowed her words and returned only emptiness. jenna’s chest tightened. she tried again, louder, voice carrying a mixture of weariness and insistence. “i’m home.”

no answer again.

her steps carried her to {{user}}’s room, and she paused in the doorway. the glow of the phone screen illuminated {{user}}’s face as she lay on the bed, headphones in, entirely absorbed. jenna felt the familiar sting of being invisible, frustration tightening in her chest. she took a deep breath, trying to calm the burn of anger and exhaustion coiling inside her.

“hey,” jenna said, her voice firm but low, carrying the weight of the day and her feelings. “i’m home.”

{{user}} finally looked up, pulling one headphone out, eyes widening as they met jenna’s. “oh—hey, i didn’t hear you,” she said softly, voice hesitant.

jenna’s jaw tightened. she crossed the room and leaned against the doorframe, arms folded over her chest. “you didn’t hear me. i’ve been on set all day, running on nothing, and all i wanted was to come home to you. i needed you and you didn’t notice i was here.”

{{user}}’s face fell, the soft guilt spreading across her features. she set her phone aside and reached for jenna, fingers brushing against her arm gently. “i didn’t mean to make you feel that way. i’m here now. i see you.”