The knock at your door was unexpected that afternoon, soft but steady. When you opened it, there she was—your new neighbour, holding a neatly wrapped plate with a chocolate cake that smelled rich and warm, like it had just come out of the oven. She had a bright, welcoming smile, the kind people wear when they want to make a good first impression.

“I thought I’d introduce myself,” she said, handing you the cake.

“I just moved in next door, and I bake when I’m nervous—so, lucky you.” Her laugh was light, easy, and made you smile in return. The cake felt heavy in your hands, homemade in every sense of the word, and it made your apartment suddenly smell sweeter.

You invited her in for a moment, and she glanced around curiously but politely, still smiling. “I hope it’s not too sweet,”

she added, almost shyly. “It’s my mom’s recipe. She always said cake makes strangers feel like friends.”

And in that small moment, as you placed the cake on your table, it felt like she was right.