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The next morning arrived with a strange quietness. Claire woke up later than usual, her body heavy with the weight of an uneasy sleep. The conversation—or lack of one—with Leevi lingered in her mind, replaying in fragments that felt sharper with each repetition. She tried to shake it off as she got ready for the day, telling herself that not every encounter had to end with a resolution. Yet, the way he had left felt so final, and she hated that feeling.

The apartment felt unusually still, the silence almost pressing against her as she moved about her morning routine. Claire made herself a simple breakfast—toast with jam and a cup of tea—and sat by the window, staring out at the damp, overcast streets below. The rain had stopped sometime during the night, leaving behind a gray, heavy sky that seemed unwilling to clear. The occasional car splashed through shallow puddles, but otherwise, the world outside seemed as quiet as her thoughts.

She tapped her fingers against the table absentmindedly, her mind drifting to Leevi again. Why does it have to be this way? she wondered. They had always been able to talk about anything, or at least, that's how it used to feel. Now, even simple moments felt strained, their connection fraying in ways she didn't know how to mend.

Her phone sat on the table, screen dark and silent. She thought about texting him but quickly dismissed the idea. If he wanted to talk, he would reach out. At least, that's what she told herself, though deep down, she wasn't so sure anymore. Instead, she decided to focus on herself for the day.

By midmorning, Claire found herself standing in her living room, surveying the quiet chaos that had crept into her space over the past few weeks. Her bookshelf, while still organized, was overflowing with books she had been meaning to read. A small stack of unopened mail sat on the coffee table, alongside an abandoned mug that had once held tea. Near the bedroom door, a basket of laundry waited patiently, another task she had been avoiding.

"Alright," she said aloud, her voice breaking the silence. "Let's get this place in order."

She started with the mail, sitting cross-legged on the floor as she sorted through bills, advertisements, and letters she didn't even realize she had received. Most of it was routine, nothing requiring more than a glance, but then her fingers paused on a brightly colored postcard.

The front featured a scenic mountain range, its snow-capped peaks gleaming against a bright blue sky. She flipped it over to find a short message from an old friend, someone she hadn't spoken to in years but who had always remembered to send her a note every holiday season.

"Thinking of you. Hope life is treating you well. Let's catch up soon."

Claire smiled faintly, running her thumb over the words. It was a small gesture, but it felt significant, a reminder that not all relationships faded completely. Some stayed, even if only in small, quiet ways.

Setting the card aside, she moved on to her bookshelf. Pulling out books one by one, she began to sort them into piles—keep, donate, or revisit. It was slow work, but there was something meditative about it, the rhythm of her hands and the soft thud of each book hitting the floor filling the quiet space around her.

Her fingers brushed the spine of a well-worn copy of Norwegian Wood, and she paused. She remembered the day Leevi had handed it to her, a small, almost sheepish smile on his face.

"This one feels like you," he had said simply.

She had read it in a matter of days, and they had spent hours afterward dissecting its themes, characters, and meaning. It was one of her favorite memories with him, a time when everything between them felt easy and natural.

Now, holding the book, she felt a pang of sadness. Things weren't like that anymore, and she didn't know if they ever would be again.

The sound of her phone buzzing broke her reverie. She glanced at the screen, half-expecting it to be Leevi, but it wasn't. Instead, it was a message from her coworker, Jenna.

"Hey! A few of us are heading out tonight for drinks. Want to join?"

Claire hesitated, her thumb hovering over the screen. Socializing wasn't at the top of her list right now, but maybe it would be good for her to get out of the house and distract herself for a while.

"Sure," she typed back after a moment. "What time?"

The bar was lively when Claire arrived that evening, the hum of conversation and laughter mingling with the faint sound of music playing overhead. Jenna waved her over to a booth near the back, where a small group of coworkers was already gathered.

"Claire! You made it!" Jenna greeted her warmly, sliding over to make room.

Claire smiled as she slid into the booth, shrugging off her coat. "I figured it was time to come out of hiding."

The night unfolded with easy chatter and clinking glasses. Claire found herself smiling more than she expected, enjoying the stories and jokes shared around the table. It was a nice change of pace, a reminder that her world extended beyond the complicated relationship with Leevi.

At one point, Jenna leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "So, how's life outside of work? Any drama? New flames?"

Claire laughed softly, shaking her head. "No flames. And as for drama... nothing worth mentioning."

"Hmm," Jenna said, raising an eyebrow. "That sounds suspiciously like 'yes, but I don't want to talk about it.'"

Claire hesitated, torn between brushing it off and confiding in someone. Jenna was more than just a coworker; she was a friend, though not one Claire usually shared her deepest thoughts with.

"There's just... someone," Claire admitted finally, keeping her voice low. "A friend. Things have been weird lately, and I don't know how to fix it."

Jenna nodded knowingly. "Ah, the classic 'weird with a friend' situation. Those are tricky."

"Tell me about it," Claire muttered.

"Have you talked to them about it?"

Claire sighed. "I've tried. But every time I do, it feels like I'm pushing them further away."

Jenna placed a comforting hand on her arm. "Sometimes people pull back for reasons that have nothing to do with us. Doesn't mean it hurts any less, though. Just... give it time. And don't forget to take care of yourself in the meantime."

Claire nodded, appreciating the advice even if it didn't provide the answers she was looking for.

By the time she got home that night, the uneasiness from earlier had dulled slightly. The apartment was quiet again, but the silence felt less oppressive now. She changed into comfortable clothes, made herself a cup of tea, and curled up on the couch with a blanket.

Her phone sat on the table, silent and untouched. She debated texting Leevi again, her thumb brushing against the edge of the screen. But instead, she reached for Norwegian Wood and opened it to the first page.

As the words drew her in, she let herself forget, just for a little while, about everything else.

For now, that was enough.

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