Nadia stepped past him without a word. The moment her foot crossed the threshold, she froze. It was as if she had stepped into another world—bare walls, two tired chairs with sagging cushions, and a bed pushed against the corner. No art, no warmth, no softness. No trace of the vibrant man she thought she knew. The silence of the space pressed against her, heavy and unyielding. She stood rooted to the spot, basket in hand, absorbing the stark loneliness that clung to the room like dust. This is where he lives?  She thought, stunned as her eyes swept the room.