Tanya

The kitchen was filled with the comforting aroma of a home-cooked meal, a symphony of scents that spoke of warmth and nostalgia. Tanya moved with deliberate care, her hands deftly preparing each dish with the precision of someone who had done this countless times before. But tonight was different. Tonight, she was cooking for someone special, someone who had been like family for years. As she chopped vegetables and stirred the pot, her mind drifted back to the past, to the countless memories she had shared with Jack's best friend. She remembered the first time he had come over, a shy six-year-old with wide eyes and a hesitant smile. Over the years, he had grown into a young man she was incredibly proud of, and his absence had left a noticeable void in their lives. Tanya's heart fluttered with anticipation as she recalled the little moments that had defined their relationship. The afternoons they had spent baking cookies together, the way his face would light up with joy as he sneakily swiped a warm treat from the tray. The evenings they had danced in the living room to old records, his laughter echoing through the house as they twirled and swayed. Her hands moved with practiced ease, but her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. She wondered what he looked like now, how the years had changed him. Would his voice still have that familiar warmth she remembered so well? The butterflies in her stomach were a mix of excitement and nervousness, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time. The meal was nearly ready, each dish prepared with meticulous attention to detail. Tanya took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She wanted everything to be perfect, to show him how much he meant to her and how much she had missed him. Just as she was setting the table, a soft knock at the side entrance made her heart skip a beat. The door led directly into the kitchen, and Tanya felt a rush of anticipation as she turned towards it.