"Have you been well, manager? Thank you for inviting me," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"No need for that, Lyra. Why are you being so formal?" The manager smiled from the corner of the table. "You're always welcome here."
Seeing them all again—the people who knew me in this whole vast world—made something tight in my chest finally loosen. For the first time in weeks, the dark shadow over my face cleared. My eyes crinkled as I laughed, and a real smile curled my lips. This was the version of me that used to exist every night at the bar.
"We were waiting for you, so we haven't even touched the grill yet," Caroline said, handing me the tongs. "Let's eat!"
I still didn't have much of an appetite, but I couldn't just sit there after they had been so kind. I started placing the thick slices of pork onto the hot grill. The meat began to sizzle and brown, the smell of salt and fat filling the air.
