That evening, Mia decided to put on a royal feast. She cut two crowns out of a cardboard box, placed a plate of cookies on the table, and declared pasta the main course of the palace kitchen. All that was left was to wait for the king.
Leo walked in and immediately gave Mia a hug. But his smile came out tired. He sank onto the couch, unbuttoned the collar of his light blue shirt, and let out a heavy sigh: "Man, what a day…"
Mia wanted to show him the crowns, but stopped. She knew that look: Leo was still mentally arguing with someone at work. "They really wearing you out?" she asked, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. Just let me sit in silence for a minute, okay?"
"Of course," Mia replied. She didn't take it personally or pry for details. She put the kettle on and went back to the kitchen. Sometimes care isn't about talking—it's about giving someone the space to decompress in peace.
Leo closed his eyes. From the kitchen came the soft clink of dishes and the smell of dinner. He could hear Mia humming to herself, and slowly, he stopped replaying that unpleasant conversation with his boss in his head.
A few minutes later, Mia peeked into the room. "How's our kingdom holding up?" she asked. Leo cracked open one eye: "Going through some tough times right now." Mia nodded with the most serious expression she could muster.
"Too bad. You were supposed to be crowned today, but the king is temporarily out of commission." She was already turning toward the door when an indignant voice piped up behind her: "Who's out of commission?!"
Leo stood up from the couch and straightened his shoulders. "The king has returned! Where's my crown?" Mia laughed and handed him the cardboard circlet. He slapped it on at a jaunty angle and marched triumphantly over to the table.
"Your Majesty, the treasury is empty," Mia announced. "We have three cookies left." "Then we shall rule wisely and share them equally," Leo replied. They ate their pasta, joked about work, and argued over whose turn it was to wash the royal dishes.
Leo had asked for twenty minutes of silence, but came back after five. Not because he had to smile, and not because Mia forced him. It was simply because there was someone nearby who understood his exhaustion and didn't take it personally. Sometimes, to recharge your batteries, it's enough just to know someone is waiting for you at home.