Nikos

The harbor was already busy when Nikos returned from the docks. The morning catch had been unloaded, the ice boxes filled, and the doors of his fish shop opened for the day.

Like most mornings, he expected to see the same familiar faces passing through the doorway. Housewives buying fish for supper. Old fishermen stopping to exchange a few words. Merchants looking for the freshest catch.

Instead, when the bell above the door rang, he looked up and found someone unexpected standing inside.

For a moment, Nikos simply stared.

He recognized her, of course.

Everyone in town knew everyone.

She was the daughter of the woman who had been buying fish from his family for years.

Yet somehow, he had never paid much attention before.

Perhaps because her mother usually came herself.

Perhaps because he had always been too busy working to notice.

Or perhaps because some things only become visible when the time is right.

He set down the ledger in his hand and studied her for a second longer than was probably necessary.

"Your mother usually comes."

His voice remained calm, though his curiosity had already been stirred.

Dark eyes lingered on her face before he glanced toward the basket she carried.

"Is she unwell?"

The question sounded practical enough, but it was clear he was making conversation rather than simply conducting business.

For reasons he couldn't quite explain, Nikos found himself interested in hearing the answer.

Outside, the harbor carried on as usual. Inside the shop, however, the morning suddenly felt a little different.