The kitchen buzzed with quiet activity as I moved between the stove and the counter, the warm glow of the enchanted sconces reflecting off polished surfaces.
The scent of roasted herbs and caramelized onions filled the air, blending with the faint tang of citrus I'd infused into the sauce bubbling on the stove.
Cooking had always been my sanctuary, a task so familiar that it allowed my mind to wander even as my hands worked on autopilot.
Tonight, I was preparing a simple but elegant dinner: pan-seared salmon with a lemon-dill cream sauce, served alongside garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans. The rhythm of slicing, stirring, and plating steadied me, but my thoughts were far from calm.
Elara's words from earlier lingered in my mind, her request wrapping around my chest like a vice. "Sleep in my room tonight."
