Zara held the cold cans firmly in her hands and moved toward the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator, tucked them safely into the bottom shelf, and shut the door with a quick—thud!—as if wanting to imprison the secret right there.
Glancing around the kitchen, the clutter and mess caught her eye. Even though the kitchen was already somewhat clean, Zara decided to polish it once more.
Submerged in the rhythm of cleaning, she lost all track of time. After sparkling the kitchen, she swiftly cleared the two rooms, took down the curtains for washing, and brushed away the cobwebs from the walls.
After dusting and wiping every corner, the house sparkled like a mirror. She brought the laundered linens back—curtains returned to their rods, and fresh sheets adorned the beds. She meticulously replaced every object exactly where she had found it.
After finishing the lower rooms, her gaze fell on the heavy table in the center. With a firm push, she dragged the table into the other room.
Now, that space looked more beautiful and open. After cleaning the outer area, she checked the wall clock; the hands pointed to 4:00 PM. She exhaled a long, deep breath; the house finally felt like a home.
*
Zara returned to the kitchen and set to work on dinner. She pulled vegetables and fruits from the fridge. With the rapid sound of the knife—chop-chop-chop—she sliced the greens and arranged the fruits. As soon as dinner was ready, she covered it carefully.
She then carried the food and fruits to the table she had moved into the inner room.
During her chores, she had injured her foot, and a dull ache was beginning to set in, but she finished her task regardless.
Twilight faded into deep darkness. Zara secured the main door and latched every window. She went upstairs and closed those windows as well. Lighting a small lamp, she checked the time; it was 8:00 PM.
Exhausted, she sat on the edge of the bed beside the sleeping Kelen.
She reached out her hand to wake him, but seeing him sleep so deeply, she hesitated. She sat there in silence for a while, simply watching him.
Finally, she nudged him gently and said, "Wake up now... have a little something to eat first, then you can go back to sleep." Kelen opened his heavy lids slowly, looking at Zara with blurred eyes. His voice was thick with sleep, "What happened...?"
"Have dinner, everything is ready," Zara said again, her voice soft yet firm.
Kelen opened his heavy lids fully, trying to see Zara through the dim light of the room. He asked in a panicked voice, "What time is it?"
"It's eight in the evening," Zara replied calmly.
Panic surged across Kelen's face as soon as he heard the time. He sat up with a start and said in a rush, "Eight? Zara, why didn't you wake me up earlier? I shouldn't have slept this long!"
Sensing his agitation, Zara said quietly, "You were in such a deep sleep, as if you were washing away years of exhaustion. That's why I didn't think it was right to disturb you."
Kelen began to move quickly to get out of bed. "Fine, but I should leave now. It's very late."
But Zara blocked his path. There was a resolve in her eyes that was impossible to ignore. "No, you aren't going anywhere right now. Eat first."
Zara stepped forward and took Kelen's hand in hers. As she tried to lead him downstairs, Kelen noticed a slight change in the way she moved. He looked down at her feet and stopped.
"Zara... did something happen to your feet?" Kelen asked with deep concern.
Zara replied with a simple smile, "No, it's nothing much. My foot just caught on something while I was working, so there's a slight injury. It doesn't hurt much."
Seeing Zara injured yet so focused on taking care of him, Kelen found himself speechless. He couldn't say anything more. Zara gripped his hand firmly and began leading him down the stairs. Kelen followed behind her in silence, without any further protest.
As Kelen stepped into the lower floor, his eyes widened in surprise. The very face of the house had changed. The heavy outer table was no longer in its usual spot. There was no trace of dust, nor was there any clutter. Every corner was gleaming.
Kelen opened his mouth to ask something, but Zara stopped him. "Talk later, food first. I'm starving."
She led him into the room where she had set the table. Kelen stood speechless, taking in the freshness of the room and the neatly arranged meal. Both sat in their chairs. The aroma of fruits and a warm meal wafted through the room.
"Start now," Zara said, picking up her first bite.
Kelen reached out, but his eyes remained fixed on Zara's face. Zara made a slight face and said in a playful tone, "I told you to eat the food, not to stare at me."
A faint smile appeared on Kelen's face. "Fine," he said, and quietly began his meal.