You were in your own home resting on a Saturday afternoon when you heard someone knocking on the door so softly that if you weren't alert you wouldn't have heard it. You got up from the sofa and when you opened the door you found a small female figure with jet hair and a sad look looking at you with a certain shyness. You could tell by the way she was dressed that she was cooking something because her apron was stained with something that looked like chocolate

"Neighbor, I-I'm sorry to bother you at this hour and... I'm really embarrassed to have to do this but..." She fiddles with her flowered skirt shyly as she seemed to be looking for courage to speak "Can't you give me some butter? It's just that I'm making a chocolate cake and I didn't remember I was out of it..."

"Oh thank you!" Lissa chirps. She blushes slightly and looks down at her feet, suddenly aware that she's standing on the doorstep wearing nothing but an apron. "I-I'm Eric's wife," she says quickly, realizing it might be rude not to introduce herself properly. "Lissa. I live next door with Eric..." Her voice trails off uncertainly.

She shuffles from foot to foot, her gaze darting back and forth between you and the doorstep as if she's not sure whether she should step inside or retreat entirely. Finally, she forces herself to meet your eyes and holds out a small plate. "Here," she says softly. "I brought some cookies I made earlier. As thanks."

She follows you hesitantly into the kitchen, unable to hide her curiosity about your home life. Seeing how easily you invite her in and offer to share cookies leaves her feeling even more shy than usual. "Th-thank you," she mumbles as she takes a step closer to the counter. "They're just cookies I made earlier, they can't be that good..."

As she watches you take a bite of one, though, Lissa can't help but feel proud. It was nice of you to pretend that they were delicious. In truth, their simple taste reminds her of home - of days when Eric would actually come home and eat with her instead of disappearing into his office all night. The thought makes her heart ache even more, but she tries not to let it show as she busies herself with measuring out butter onto a small plate.

Blushing furiously now, Lissa glances back up at you. "Really?" she whispers, her voice barely audible over the sound of the butter fizzing in the microwave. She swallows hard and forces herself to look away, focusing on arranging the cookies neatly on a plate instead. The truth is, making people happy with food is one of the few things that brings her joy these days... even if it's only temporary.

Without another word, she extends the plate toward you. "Here," she says softly, offering more than just butter or cookies this time. Her voice wavers slightly as she meets your gaze again, hoping against hope for some kind of recognition or understanding in your eyes.

Her eyes widen with surprise at your compliment. "Really?" she asks shyly, her fingers fidgeting nervously on the edge of her apron. It means so much to her that you like her cooking; it's one of the few things left in her life that makes her feel good about herself. She bites down on her lip and nods slowly. "Y-yes, of course! I'd be honored if you wanted to try some...?" she says tentatively, almost afraid that you might say no.

Lissa watches as you eat more cookies, trying not to look too hopeful about your answer. If only she could give you something else - a real smile or a warm hug... but those are things her husband has long since taken away from her. All she can do is wait and hope that maybe today will be different.

"Thank you," she whispers, unable to hide her relief. To hear such praise coming from someone else's mouth feels almost surreal; like maybe it wasn't all just in her imagination. She forces herself to smile shyly and ducks her head, running a hand through her hair as if trying to compose herself. "It means a lot that you think so... I-I hope you enjoy the cake."

She lingers for a moment longer, unsure whether she should make her exit or not. Part of her wishes that you'd invite her to stay and chat some more; another part of her is terrified at the thought of overstaying her welcome. Eventually, she decides that it might be best to go back home before Eric returns from whatever night-time escapades he has planned. With one last nervous glance in your direction, she turns and hurries out of the kitchen.

Her heart leaps at your words; it's the first time anyone has ever shown interest in spending time with her like this. A tiny flicker of hope ignites within her chest as she turns back around, studying your face for any sign that you might be joking. But you don't look like you're playing a game; instead, there's sincerity etched into the lines of your face. For just a moment, she allows herself to imagine what it would be like to have someone care about her the way Eric cares about his mistresses... "I-I don't know," she stammers finally, unable to meet your gaze. "You're probably busy... or maybe you should just stay here? I shouldn't impose on you..."

Her voice trails off as the words tangle together in her throat. She knows that Eric would never allow another man into their home, least of all someone like you who treats her with kindness and understanding. But even though she's terrified at the thought of what might happen if Eric found out about this, a small part of her can't help but hope...

Her hands tremble as she finally meets your gaze. "O-okay," she whispers, feeling dizzy with the sudden weight of her decision. "But just... just follow me at a distance so it doesn't look suspicious, okay? And please promise not to tell Eric... he can be very angry sometimes..." Her voice trails off as she leads you through the house toward her small kitchen, praying under her breath that everything will turn out all right.

The room is warm and inviting despite its humble appearance; it's obvious that this is where Lissa spends most of her time when Eric isn't around to lord over her. She turns on the oven and begins assembling the ingredients for the cake, casting nervous glances in your direction every few seconds. But surprisingly, you seem perfectly at ease, chatting amiably with her as if you've known each other for years.

As they work together to prepare the dessert, a strange sort of camaraderie begins to build between them; something that Lissa hasn't felt in so long it nearly takes her breath away. She finds herself actually enjoying your company and wishing that this moment could last forever... but she knows all too well that eventually reality will set in, and everything will go back to being the way it was before: lonely, unhappy, and hopeless.

Her heart lifts at your offer of assistance. "Wow, thank you," she says gratefully, giving you a shy smile. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't wanted to help... it means so much that you're here with me." As the two of them continue working together, the atmosphere in the kitchen grows more and more comfortable; it feels almost like they've known each other for years instead of mere minutes.

The cake finally done, Lissa steps back to survey their handiwork with a satisfied sigh. "That wasn't too bad, was it?" she asks tentatively, her cheeks flushed from exertion and pleasure. Despite the warmth that fills her chest at having shared this experience with you, she can't help but feel a twinge of guilt as well; knowing that once Eric gets home everything will return to normal, and this strange little bubble they've created together will pop beneath the weight of reality.

Her mouth drops open in surprise before she covers it with her hand, blushing furiously. "O-of course! I mean... if you'd like..." She casts another nervous glance at the door, as if fearing that Eric might return any moment and catch them in this most unexpected of situations. With shaking hands, she slices off a generous piece of the cake and hands it to you on a small plate. "Here," she says quietly, her voice barely audible above the sound of the ticking clock.

As you eat your slice of chocolate cake, Lissa can't help but feel a strange sense of pride swell up within her. She never thought that anyone would actually want to share something this special with her... it makes her heart ache even more knowing that this moment has to end eventually. But for now, she decides to enjoy every second of it while she can.

Her cheeks flush even deeper as you praise her cooking, but she can't help smiling shyly all the same. It feels so good to finally be appreciated; it's been such a long time since anyone has made her feel this way. Carefully, she takes the fork from your hand and allows you to feed her a bite of cake. The sensation sends a jolt of electricity through her, making her heart race wildly in her chest. For just a moment, they stand there together: You watching her intently, your fingers still curled around the handle of the fork; Her eyes locked onto yours as she savors the taste of your compliment and cake alike.

Time seems to slow down as they share this small, almost intimate moment. Lissa can't help but wonder what would happen if things were different - if Eric wasn't constantly demanding her attention or controlling every aspect of her life. Would she and Rockk be friends? Lovers? Something in between? The possibilities dance through her mind like sugarplums, taunting her with their sweet allure and teasing her with the promise of something more...

Her heart skips a beat at your offer. It's the last thing she expected you to say... but suddenly, sharing this small piece of cake seems like such an intimate gesture between them. With trembling fingers, she takes another slice and hands it to you, their fingertips brushing lightly as they meet. Her cheeks flush even deeper, and she finds herself unable to look away as you take the cake from her hand, feeling a strange sort of thrill course through her veins at your touch.

For what seems like an eternity, they stand there together: you eating the cake she's made; her watching every movement of your lips and tongue with rapt attention. It feels almost... intimate somehow - as if this were a moment stolen from time itself. And when you finally look up at her again, meeting her gaze directly, Lissa knows that something has changed between them... she just isn't sure what it is yet.

Her heart skips a beat at your offer. It means so much to her that you enjoyed the cake and want to come back for more; it's almost too much for her to handle. She bites down on her lip, struggling to find the right words to say. "I-I would really like that," she finally manages, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes shine with unshed tears as she takes a step closer to you, suddenly unable to contain herself any longer. "Th-thank you," she says hoarsely, reaching out to touch your arm before dropping her hand back down to her side again.

As the moment stretches on, Lissa feels like she's standing at the edge of a cliff: teetering between the safety of her old life and the terrifying promise of something new. The wind whips around her, threatening to knock her off balance at any moment; but for now, she holds her ground, determined not to let go until she's found out what it is that she truly wants from this strange, unexpected encounter with you.

No! N-no, it's not that," she says quickly, wiping away a tear that has escaped despite her best efforts. "It's just... I don't know. This is all so new and strange for me. I wasn't expecting to feel this way about something like cooking with someone else..."

She trails off, unsure of how much more she should say. Her heart races as she meets your eyes again, wondering what you must think of her: the lonely housewife who has suddenly become emotional over a simple act of kindness and companionship. But somehow, even though she knows it shouldn't matter, it feels like everything right now - every touch and glance and word exchanged between them.

Her eyes widen slightly at the offer, surprise and longing warring in their depths. She hesitates for a moment before slowly nodding her head. Part of her is afraid that if she doesn't accept the hug now, she never will; another part is terrified of what might happen if Eric finds out about this small display of affection between them...

Her breath catches in her throat as you reach out to envelop her in your arms. It feels so good - so right - to be held like this after all these lonely months. She presses herself closer against you, burying her face in the crook of your neck, and lets out a shuddering sigh. For just a moment, she allows herself to imagine what it would be like if things were different; if Eric wasn't always there to take away everything that made her happy...*

As the hug lingers on, Lissa can feel her resolve beginning to crumble. She knows that sooner or later, reality will set in and she'll have to go back to living her life as Eric's faithful wife and companion; but for now, this small taste of something more is enough to make her heart soar like a bird freed from its cage. As the final notes of a love song drift through the air, Lissa leans further into your embrace, content for the moment to simply savor the sweetness of being held by you.

Her tears fall unchecked as she burrows deeper into your embrace. She can feel the weight of her emotions lifting with every passing moment, as if being held by you has somehow granted her permission to release everything that's been bottled up inside her for so long. "It's just been so hard," she whispers hoarsely against your skin. "I miss feeling wanted and loved... I miss having someone who actually cares about me." Her words catch in her throat, but she forces herself to continue: "You don't know what it's like being married to him... always walking on eggshells, never knowing when he'll snap at me or accuse me of something..."

She trails off, ashamed to admit the full extent of her unhappiness even to herself. It feels strange and foreign, confessing these things aloud; as if she's betraying Eric in some way by admitting that their marriage isn't perfect. But somehow, it also feels good - liberating in a way she never could have imagined before now...

The question stops her cold. She pulls back slightly to look up at your face, her eyes wide with shock and uncertainty. "I-I don't know," she whispers quietly. "Sometimes I think that if I just did what he wanted, if I was perfect in every way... then things would be better. But deep down, I know that's not who I am." Her voice trembles as she admits this to herself - and to you.

You can see the conflict etched into her features; the desire to please him warring with the need for self-preservation. It breaks your heart a little more with every passing moment, knowing that no matter what choice she makes, it will only lead to pain and suffering. And yet, there's an undeniable strength in her gaze as well - a determination not to let Eric control her any longer, even if it means facing the consequences on her own.

Her heart swells at your words; they're the first kind thing anyone has ever said to her about herself. Tentatively, she lifts her head again and meets your eyes. There's a question in them, a plea for understanding or reassurance... something that only she can provide. "I-I don't know," she whispers. "It's so hard to imagine being free of him... but I think maybe I could try."

She pauses, gathering her courage. "Will you help me?" she asks softly. Her voice is barely audible above the sound of your heart beating against her ear; it's almost as if she's afraid that speaking the words out loud will make them less real somehow. But there's hope in her eyes, a spark that hasn't been there since before Eric swept into her life and stole everything that made her happy.

Her cheeks flush at your offer of support. "I-I don't know," she whispers again, searching your eyes for some clue as to what you mean. "Just... help me find myself again, I guess? Help me remember who Lissa was before Eric took her away." She swallows hard, feeling the weight of their situation bearing down on her once more. "And if you could just keep coming over and spending time with me... that would mean so much," she finishes in a whisper.

She expects you to laugh at this, or mock her for being foolish enough to think someone like you would want anything to do with her. But instead, your arms tighten around her, pulling her closer still. "I'll help you any way I can, Lissa," you say gently. "I promise." And as the last notes of the love song drift off into silence, she allows herself to believe that maybe - just maybe - there is hope for them after all.

She sniffles and nods against your chest. "Yes," she whispers, squeezing her eyes shut as she takes in the warmth and safety of your embrace. It feels so good to finally feel safe and loved; it's a sensation that she'd almost forgotten existed. As you hold her tightly, she allows herself to relax into the moment, reveling in the feeling of being truly cherished for who she is, rather than what Eric wants her to be.

With each passing second, their bond grows stronger; the connection between them deepening and expanding until it feels as if there's nothing that could ever tear them apart. In this moment, Lissa knows that no matter what challenges they might face in the future, she has found someone who will always have her back... and for the first time in a very long time, that realization brings her more joy than she ever thought possible.

She nods against your chest, her grip on you tightening ever so slightly. "O-okay," she whispers, forcing herself to let go even as she wants nothing more than to keep holding onto this moment forever. "I'll see you tomorrow then." A small smile plays at the corners of her lips as she takes a step back, basking in the warmth that remains between them even though your bodies are no longer touching.

As you turn to leave, she watches you go with a mixture of gratitude and longing swirling in her stomach. Even though you're gone now, she knows that you'll be back tomorrow, and every day after that; that knowledge gives her strength she never knew she had. Tonight, as she crawls into bed alone, the scent of your cologne lingering on her pillowcase, she closes her eyes and allows herself to dream of a brighter future - one where Eric is nothing more than a distant memory, and she can spend every moment of her life with you instead.