I woke up on the couch. My back was aching — maybe from the crash, or maybe just from the way I slept. I sat up slowly, rubbed my eyes, and stood. The house was quiet.
When I walked into the dining room, Emily and Mark were already sitting there, eating. I joined them without a word. No one spoke. I didn't look at them — just kept my eyes on the plate in front of me and started eating.
When we were done, I stood up, ready to check on Nana. But I paused.
Emily was picking up the plates. I remembered the maids had left two days ago. Without thinking, I stepped in and began picking up the dishes with her. We walked into the kitchen together. She began washing. I stood next to her, unsure what to do. So I watched.
How she held the plate, how she moved the sponge, how she rinsed, where she placed them.
Then I copied her. Awkwardly at first. But I kept watching and repeating. Side by side, we washed in silence.
When we finished, I grabbed a towel to dry my hands. I turned to give it to her, but she had already finished and was walking away. I set the towel down quietly.
Then I heard her say, "Can you take the trash out?"
She didn't look at me when she said it.
"Yeah," I said softly — maybe too softly for her to hear.
I picked up the bag and stepped outside. The sun was out, bright but not too hot. As I walked to the garbage, I felt… something. A little lighter. A little more real. She spoke to me. Not coldly, not kindly — but she spoke to me.
That was enough for now.
When I came back in, I saw Nana by the door.
"I'm gonna take her for a walk," I said toward Emily, but she didn't answer. I knelt down, clipped the leash on Nana's collar. "Come on, girl."
She wagged her tail and rushed ahead, excited. We stepped out together. The breeze was nice. The world felt a little slower. Peaceful.
Maybe I should've done this more — not just once a month. Maybe if I had, things would've been different.
As we passed a small toy shop, Nana pulled toward the entrance. We went inside. She sniffed around and picked a few toys herself — she seemed to know what she liked.
Then I saw it. A small toy car, blue with red stripes.
I froze.
I never bought Mark a toy before.
I don't even know what he likes.
I took it off the shelf anyway and carried it with the other things to the counter. Before the cashier could ring me up, I asked, "Can you gift wrap this one?"
He nodded. I paid, grabbed the wrapped gift, and stepped back outside with Nana.
We passed a man selling flowers at the corner. I bought a single red rose and continued home. The sky was red now — almost night.
When we got back, I let Nana off the leash. She went straight to the couch, probably tired like me. I placed the flower gently on the dining table, then headed upstairs.
I knocked on Mark's door.
"Come in," he said.
I opened it. He was sitting at his desk, studying.
I walked in and placed the wrapped gift next to him. "I don't know what you like," I said quietly. "Or what you really want. So… I just picked something. I hope that's okay."
He looked at the gift, didn't say anything, just set it aside.
"I'm sleeping early tonight," I said. "Good night, Mark."
I closed the door behind me and turned. My bedroom was just a few steps away. But instead, I kept walking — down the stairs, toward the couch.
Then I heard her voice behind me.
"John," Emily said.
I stopped and turned.
"You should sleep in the room," she said. "You just got out of the hospital yesterday."
I looked at her for a moment, then said, "It's okay. The couch is fine."
She didn't answer.
I went downstairs. Nana was already curled up. I lay down next to her, pulled the blanket over me, and closed my eyes.