✴ Scarlett ✴
The kitchen was alive with comforting aromas. Garlic sizzled in olive oil, freshly chopped basil, and the rich scent of tomato sauce simmered on the stove. I moved around with practiced ease, as I added a pinch of salt here, a dash of oregano there. Cooking had always been my way of unwinding, a small escape from the whirlwind of life. But tonight, it felt like more than that. Tonight, it was about setting the stage. Damien was coming for dinner. I glanced at the clock and wiped my hands on a dish towel. There was still plenty of time, but my heart raced anyway. After everything that had happened recently – the planning meetings, Karen’s awkward advances, Jonathan’s unwelcome persistence, Kathy's apparent rejection – I needed this evening to be calm, honest, and, above all, n
