Chapter: Still Here, Somehow

The sun was relentless that morning. I had forgotten to close the curtains, and now the light was hitting me right in the face. I sat up, intending to shut them, but thought better of it... a little light wouldn't hurt. I went to the bathroom and washed my face; the reflection in the mirror surprised me: I looked less exhausted than yesterday. It had been many nights since I last slept so well. I couldn't remember the details, but I knew I had dreamed of you, and that gave me a bit of peace.

I got ready, checked that I had everything for class, and left for the university. That day, I had arranged to meet some friends before classes started, so I arrived a couple of hours early. The little campus café was our usual meeting spot, and from afar, I saw them waving excitedly. I smiled and walked toward the table.

"Olivia, you look so pretty today. You can tell you finally got some rest," Gloria said, hugging me tightly.

"Yeah, I finally slept without any problems. You look lovely too," I replied, returning the hug.

I set my backpack on the chair and hugged Merlyn and Alejandra, who welcomed me with warmth.

"We're planning to go to the park after class. Want to come, or are you busy?" Merlyn asked as she sat down.

"Yeah, you should come. We could get that cake you like so much," Alejandra added, holding my hand. I squeezed hers gently and smiled.

"Sure, I'll come with you today. Thanks, girls... I really appreciate what you do for me. I know it's not easy having a friend like me, with so many issues," I said, my smile trying to mask the tears that wanted to spill.

"You don't have to thank us. You're our friend. You're not a burden—we love you, and that's why we're here," Alejandra replied with a calm smile.

"Okay, enough with the sentimental stuff. Let's eat before I faint!" Gloria joked while flipping through the menu.

I looked at them, and I couldn't understand how such beautiful and bright people could be here, with me, despite everything. I picked up the menu, but a familiar smell made me lift my eyes. The scent of freshly baked cookies drifted through the air. My breath caught. I couldn't stop staring. It couldn't be... but he looked so much like Tom. I tried to calm myself down. I knew it was a hallucination. I closed my eyes and kept them shut for several long, endless seconds. I felt a hand over mine—it was Alejandra—and her gentle voice asked me to breathe. I followed her rhythm, and finally managed to calm down.

When I opened my eyes, I saw their worried faces. I gave them a weak smile and murmured that I was okay. Their expressions softened a bit. I looked back at the menu, ordered a black coffee and a muffin, and we let the waiter take our orders.

"I'm sorry," I said, looking at my trembling hands. "I think it was a hallucination. I saw him... or I thought I did. That's what triggered it. I'm telling you so you don't worry more than you already do."

"We know, don't worry. We already know what to do when it happens. Everything's going to be okay," Gloria said with a reassuring smile.

"What do you think triggered it?" Alejandra asked, glancing discreetly over her shoulder.

"I smelled his cologne. And I doubt anyone else smells exactly like that. At least not here, not at the university. I would've noticed by now. But let's just forget it happened... let's move on like nothing happened, okay?"

"Maybe someone else uses it. From what you've told us, it sounds like a very masculine scent. Lots of guys would wear something like that to get attention," Merlyn said, digging through her purse.

"Could be. I guess... but it's over now. I'm okay," I replied, forcing a smile.

The waiter returned with our food. I noticed something strange.

"Excuse me... we didn't order these cookies," I said, handing the plate back.

"That's true, you didn't," the waiter replied politely. "But a gentleman asked me to bring them to your table, and he paid for everything you ordered. Enjoy your meal."

He left the cookies on the table and walked away.

I stared at them. The scent... it was unmistakable. It couldn't be a coincidence. I had to be imagining things. But those were the cookies Tom liked...

The cookies remained untouched on the table, but in my mind, they had already stirred up a storm.

Suddenly, I was there again: in his apartment, on a Saturday afternoon. It was raining outside, and the sound of the drops against the window was almost hypnotic. Tom was in the kitchen, humming a song I didn't recognize as he pulled a tray out of the oven.

"You have to try these," he said, with that smile that lit up his eyes. "They're not perfect, but... they have something special."

I walked over, curious. He offered me a cookie broken in half.

"What's special about them?" I asked, taking it.

"They're the first ones I made by myself. No recipe, no measuring... I just followed my instincts."

I took a bite. They weren't the best cookies in the world—slightly underbaked, maybe needed one more minute in the oven—but they tasted like home. Like him. Like everything we built together without even realizing it. That was the day he told me, for the first time, that he wanted a future with me. He didn't use big words, it wasn't a dramatic declaration. He just sat next to me, offered me another cookie, and said, "I hope we always come back to this, even if only through memories."

And we did. We came back. Again and again, even after he was gone.

I returned to the present with a lump in my throat. The cookies were still there, like an unsent message, like an echo from the past refusing to fade. Could it really have been him? Or was it just my mind clinging to the one thing it refuses to let go of?

Alejandra touched my arm gently, and I remembered to breathe.

"Everything okay?"

I nodded, even though the real answer was far more complicated.