That evening, she ordered takeout and ate mechanically, each bite tasteless as her mind raced. She sent her various medical reports to her high school friend, who studied medicine, hoping for some clarity.
Not long after, the door opened, and Elias entered, his presence as cold as the winter air surrounding him. He walked over, setting a bag down on the coffee table.
"After thinking it over, I couldn’t let my Mira spend the anniversary alone," he said, his voice softening as he leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I rushed back as soon as I finished my mission. It’s not too late, is it?"
Mira’s pupils flickered, her heart fluttering for a brief moment before it sank. Before she could process the emotion, Elias pulled out a transparent lunch box from the bag.
"I packed this before I started my shift," he explained, opening the lid. "After you eat, we can figure out how to make up for the anniversary tomorrow. I swapped shifts with someone for the day."
Mira gazed at the three dishes inside the lunch box, recognizing them immediately. They were identical to the ones Vera had posted earlier. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Where did the food come from?"