Winter's Farewell

​🇨​​🇭​​🇦​​🇵​​🇹​​🇪​​🇷 𝟗₉

The weekend arrived faster than Claire had anticipated. The days had passed by on autopilot: work, some time with Blair, and a couple of quiet afternoons at home. She hadn't heard from Leevi since his last message, and although she had tried not to dwell on it too much, the silence between them was starting to feel more noticeable.

On Friday afternoon, as she was closing the bookstore, Claire decided that she wouldn't spend the weekend waiting for Leevi to respond or be available. She knew she needed to do something for herself. With that thought in mind, she decided to plan a full Saturday to keep herself distracted. She would go to the market, try a new recipe, and if she had time, maybe visit an art gallery in the city.

The first stop was the market. She always loved walking through the stalls filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, and freshly baked bread. The bustle kept her distracted, and that Saturday morning was no exception. As she filled her bag with ingredients for dinner, thoughts of Leevi faded into the background. She was determined to enjoy her day, regardless of the replies that never came.

However, as she walked down the aisles, her phone vibrated. Claire stopped immediately and pulled it out of her pocket, hoping it was Leevi, maybe suggesting a last-minute plan. But when she checked the screen, she saw it was just a message from Blair.

"Do you have plans for today? I'm free if you're up for something." The message was simple but direct, just like Blair always was.

Claire smiled and quickly typed a response.

"I'm at the market, then I'm trying a new recipe at home. Want to come over for dinner? I'm making eggplant lasagna."

The message quickly received an enthusiastic reply from Blair.

"Count me in! See you at 7."

Satisfied with the impromptu plan, Claire put her phone away and continued shopping. She knew that spending the afternoon cooking and chatting with Blair would be exactly what she needed to clear her mind.

The afternoon arrived, and Claire got to work in the kitchen. She enjoyed the process of cooking when she had the time; it was almost therapeutic for her. Chopping vegetables, preparing the sauce, assembling everything with care... it kept her focused and gave her a sense of accomplishment that she didn't always find in her daily routine.

As she mixed the ingredients for the lasagna, her mind inevitably wandered to Leevi. It wasn't the first time he'd distanced himself, but this time felt different. When was the last time we really had a long conversation? she thought while layering eggplant and sauce. In recent months, their interactions had been shorter, more sporadic. And while she tried to convince herself it wasn't a big deal, the feeling that something was changing was becoming more apparent each day.

Blair arrived promptly at 7, as promised. When she entered the apartment, she brought with her that vibrant energy that always accompanied her, and in just a few minutes, the kitchen was filled with laughter and lively conversation. Claire appreciated how easily Blair could make everything seem lighter, as if nothing really mattered that much.

"This smells amazing," Blair said as she peeked into the oven, inhaling deeply the aroma of the lasagna. "I can't wait to try it!"

"I hope you like it," Claire replied with a smile. "It's the first time I'm trying this recipe."

While the food finished cooking, the two sat in the living room, each with a glass of wine in hand. The conversation flowed naturally, covering the usual topics: work, the latest TV shows they were watching, and some trivial gossip about mutual friends.

But Blair, as always, could read Claire well. It didn't take long before she brought up what Claire had been trying to avoid.

"And how's Leevi?" Blair asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

Claire shrugged, trying to keep her tone casual.

"He's fine, I guess. I saw him last week, but we haven't talked much since." She took a sip of wine, hoping the topic would quickly fade.

Sarah watched her for a moment, as if debating whether to press further.

"Does it bother you?" she asked eventually.

Claire shook her head.

"No, it's just that... I don't know, sometimes he disappears for a while. I'm used to it." Her tone was calmer than she really felt, but she didn't want to admit it fully.

"I get it." Blair paused before continuing. "But if it bothers you, you should say something. You know, just in case. Sometimes people don't realize what they're doing until you point it out."

Claire didn't respond immediately. She knew Blair was right, but she didn't want to seem needy. She had always valued the independence in her friendship with Leevi, and the last thing she wanted was for him to think she depended too much on his presence.

"I'll think about it," she replied at last, leaving the topic there.

The conversation shifted after that, and when they finally sat down to eat, Claire felt more relaxed. The lasagna had turned out perfectly, and Blair's laughter filled the kitchen, dispelling any tension she had felt earlier.

After dinner, Blair left with a warm hug and a promise to do something together soon. Claire, meanwhile, stayed in the kitchen, tidying up and putting the leftovers in the fridge. The apartment was quiet, but that usual tranquility, which she typically enjoyed, felt a bit empty that night.

As she cleaned up, she realized she was checking her phone more frequently than usual, waiting for some message from Leevi that never came. And while she tried to ignore that feeling of disappointment, she couldn't help but wonder if he also sensed that something had changed between them.

Finally, after finishing up in the kitchen, Claire sank onto the couch with a sigh. She glanced at her phone once more, but the screen remained silent. Maybe I should text him first, she thought, but something stopped her. She didn't want to push, didn't want to force something that had always come so naturally between them.

So instead of writing, she set the phone aside and tried to distract herself with a book. The words flowed before her eyes, but her mind kept returning to Leevi. Why does this time feel different? she wondered, unable to find a clear answer.

On Sunday morning, Claire decided to do something different. She felt the need to move, to clear her head, so she headed to the neighborhood gym. It wasn't something she did regularly, but she knew the exercise would help release some of the tension she had been carrying.

The gym was quiet that morning, which suited her well. She hopped on a treadmill and started running, letting the steady sound of her feet on the machine disconnect her from her thoughts. But even as she ran, she couldn't help but picture Leevi in her mind.

After almost an hour, she decided she had had enough. She took a quick shower and went for a walk around the neighborhood. The fresh air cleared her mind, and for the first time in days, she felt more at peace. Maybe I'm just overthinking it, she told herself. 

As she walked back to her apartment, her phone vibrated. She pulled it out immediately, hoping it was him. And it was. Leevi had finally replied.

"How about dinner on Thursday?" the message said, simple and direct, as always.

Claire smiled to herself. There he is, she thought. He always comes back.

She quickly responded, confirming the dinner for Thursday. And while the small doubt still lingered in her mind, she felt relieved. Everything is fine, she told herself once more. Everything will be fine.