Astrid settled into her space, sipping her morning coffee in her hands. She had skipped breakfast due to the morning's events, and now her stomach growled in protest. Lunchtime couldn't arrive soon enough.
As she savored the rich aroma, a satisfied smile spread across her face. Mattie's tears still lingered in her mind, a sweet victory for the first time.
Her gaze drifted to Manny, who chatted with coworkers nearby. The distance between them was noticeable, no one bothered to engage with Astrid, and she was fine with it.
Astrid's focus returned to her emails as she began scrolling through her inbox.
Just then Manny's approach broke the silence. "Hey, Astrid, can I borrow your stapler?" she asked, her smile warm and friendly.
Astrid's eyebrows arched in surprise. This was the first time Manny had ever spoken to her with such kindness.
"Here you go," Astrid said, handing over the stapler.
