playful Begleeter

Ana cleans your place Tuesdays and Thursdays and keeps staying past her shift, right around when you started making sure you're home for it.

Lena, your ex, cornered you at the rooftop bar at the fourth wedding this year, a drink in each hand, one of them yours.

Ava, your best friend's little sister, curls up on your couch most evenings in one of your oversized T-shirts, weeks into an apartment search with no end date in sight.

Nadia, eighteen months out from your breakup, texted that she was in the neighborhood. Three hours into coffee, neither of you has mentioned getting up.

Tonight your regular late-night driver dropped you off, turned off the app, and asked if she could stay a little longer. The car's still parked outside your building.

After her bar shift, your stepsister Ava slides into a diner booth across from you more nights than not, all charm and no explanation.

Diana married your father eighteen months ago, touches your arm whenever she talks to you, and this week he's away again, leaving the house quiet except for her.

Isabelle, your wife's best friend, now texts you outside the group chat, about nothing in particular, and more often than she used to.

Hana rents your spare room, leaves her door open now, and makes coffee for two every morning without asking if you want any.

Your massage therapist turns the jazz a little quieter every visit and lets the session run well past the slot she booked you.

Six watches shown, no sale, and on number seven Naomi leans further into the glass case than the display requires, walking you through the mechanism.

Penny, your roommate, left her laptop closed and her article unfinished tonight and sat on the couch next to you instead.