Once upon a time

Walls

Nika looked at the ceiling and stroked the walls. These walls were warm. They gave comfort and accepted everything, which is why she loved staying home so much. No matter how bad things got, home - a favorite soft rug, a coffee pot, a polka-dot pillow, a warm blanket - everything was familiar. It wasn’t scary to dash off for the weekend, for a week, or to rent a country house for a month from this home. It gave Nika freedom because there was always a place to return to. She enjoyed living alone. Whether she was polishing everything to a shine or wandering in chaos and pajamas, hosting guests or inventing excuses to stay in, there was a choice at home. Even her favorite coffee cups were a choice. So, she knew - wherever in life the choice was forced, at home it would be real and familiar.

At home, she had cried out her grievances, heard so many funny stories, and created so many of her own… She spent the COVID year on Zoom. She went through therapy, studied, flirted, commented, practiced yoga. She never tired of being at home. She mastered delivery of everything. But now she needed to move for a good reason. But how? How to take this step knowing she won’t easily return? They told her not to get attached, Nika thought. But how could they not say…

Nika grew to love another home, loved not living alone, loved coffee from a machine with capsules and whipped cream. But somewhere in her heart, she will forever keep that part of her home that accepted her as she was and offered the familiar and simple choice - today, a yellow cup and chocolate with caramel…