“This is exactly what I needed”, she thought, hugging herself against a spark of hopeful calm. Noemi stood ankle‑deep in the surge, enjoying how the cold foam numbed her tired feet. She had spent the last half hour strolling the curve of the bay, collecting smooth stones and letting the wind untangle the knots in her thoughts.
The scene felt almost staged for comfort: soft evening light, salt in the air, the deep hush of waves that made city noise seem impossible. She closed her eyes and told herself that, for once, everything was exactly as it should be.