Helena woke up to the smell of fried bacon and egg; she was sure it was from her kitchen. Her blood was boiling at the thought that Arthur dared to touch her kitchen. Helena's kitchen is sacred to her since she loves cooking.
"You better prepare yourself, Arthur," Helena hissed.

Helena grabbed herself out of bed and hurried to the kitchen only to be welcomed with two sunny-side-up eggs and fried bacon on the dining table, with a note beside the plate. "I cooked you breakfast. I hope you like it. My payment for a night's stay is at the center table," Helena reads the note.

Helena looked at the center table in the living room, and there was a 100-dollar bill. She felt a little relieved that the man paid for his stay. "Because why not? There's nothing free these days, especially since I'm an independent woman who has to buy my own place from my own savings and to top that, I'm struggling financially," she muttered.

Helena checks the egg tray and counts the missing eggs and her bacon in the refrigerator. Four eggs were missing, and a pack of bacon. It did confirm that Arthur had his breakfast before leaving.

"He did follow my instructions of leaving first thing in the morning, but he touched my kitchen. If he didn't pay for the night's stay, he'd be in trouble," she talked to herself.

Helena then goes to the comfort room to do her morning business. There she discovers that Arthur had indeed taken a bath before leaving. The bathroom smells masculine, she's guessing probably from Arthur's body wash and shampoo. Helena couldn't deny that the man was clean and meticulously cared for his body.

Helena starts her day by having brunch. She doesn't have time to cook for herself thanks to Arthur, who cooked her meal, since she woke up late. She praised Arthur's egg and bacon; the presentation wasn't bad at all, and he cooked them just as well. She's even surprised he didn't overcook the egg and bacon like other men she knows. Even Israel needs to learn how to cook a fried egg. The man grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth.

The thought of Israel and Arthur again made Helena stop her meal. She doesn't like comparing Israel to Arthur. The love of her life, Israel, was incomparable even now that he was gone. She devoured that last piece of bacon on her plate and then washed the dishes. Helena noticed Arthur washed the dishes he used since there were no used plates and a fork on the counter. She was indeed quite impressed by the man's cleanliness.

After her brunch, she cleans the house from her backyard, kitchen, and living room to her bedroom. She skips the second bedroom that she made a stock room. Helena sure had a productive day as she finished her cleaning before sunset. Which is a good time for her to walk outside, watching the sunset unfold before her eyes. It's her favorite thing to do before the wind gets cold in the evening.

Perfect place to collect her thoughts, especially remembering the love of her life, Israel. After losing Israel, Helena wanted to leave the city to avoid Israel's family and grieve alone. The only thing holding her back was her finances. When she had the chance, Helena sold everything she got and started looking for a beach house in her budget range. She left the city with no one knowing except her best friend, Gabby.

For Helena, her place is a piece of paradise, and she couldn't be happier anywhere else but in San Antonio. The house is undoubtedly made for her since it is alone on a beach, just like what she loved, where the neighbor is miles away.

They say people left San Antonio for a better life in the city, but Helena thinks the other way around. City life is a delusion. She hates the hustle and bustle of city life; one reason is that she's an introvert, and the second reason is losing the love of her life. Israel is no longer there, leaving her no reason to stay in a noisy place and, most of all, the threat from Israel's family.

The thought of the way Israel's family treats her made her quiver. Helena and Israel suffered under their hands for almost a year until Israel's passing.

Tears streamed down Helena's face as she stood on the beach in San Antonio. It had been nearly a year since Israel passed away, but still, his memory was as clear to her as if he were standing beside her. She remembered the sound of his laughter, shared jokes and secret language, gentle touch, and how he loved and accepted her despite their differences. He was the only love she had ever known and the only one she would ever need — yet he had left her.

She wrapped her arms around her body in an attempt to comfort herself as if Israel were still doing it for her, but the feeling of warmth from his embrace was gone forever. Her body shook as she gasped for air, overwhelmed with guilt that she couldn't stop him from leaving her. Pain pierced through her chest, and an endless wave of sadness crashed over her.

Darkness covered the clouds, and the cold was unbearable. Helena lost what time was on the clock until she felt growling in her stomach. It's time for her to cook dinner. She walks back home to cook dinner. As planned, she's cooking Israel's favorite recipe that she used to make for him.

It was supposed to be Israel's 30th birthday. For the first time, she was celebrating it alone.

Helena has been eating her dinner alone like she always does for a month. Israel was on her mind as she ate roast beef with peppers, garlic mashed potato, and raspberry cheesecake for dessert. If only he was with her, it would be a fun night, to begin with. She would be in Israel's lap while having dinner like they did on his 29th birthday.

Helena spent her night crying until she repeatedly heard a knock on her door, which pissed her off. She forced herself to get up and check who was at her door late in the evening. Helena remembers Arthur. "Lord, not him again, please," she begs, getting close to the door.

As she opened the door and exposed the presence of a man, the disappointment on her face was as clear as broad daylight.

"It's you again?" Helena had no intention of hiding her displeasure.