The house was silent, as if it knew I needed some peace. Giulia had already gone up to her room with Isabella, and I stood still in the living room for a few minutes, keys still in hand, staring at nothing. Isa's bag was leaning against the sofa, Giulia's on the floor, with one of her toys escaping through the zipper. A normal scene. Familiar. But something inside me wasn't.
I sat down in the armchair by the window. The late afternoon light painted the room in warm golden tones. I closed my eyes and let my head fall back. The smell of food still hung in the air — a remnant of the restaurant we'd been to earlier. It had been a good lunch. Giulia laughed, Isa was charmed by the stories I told about my grandmother... and I found myself watching Isa more than I should have. Not with the eyes
