She stared at it, thinking for a second, and then reached over to grab one. Without hesitation, she swallowed it down, immediately closing her eyes and leaning back against the pillow.

Almost immediately, she felt a warm wave of relief rush through her body, washing away her depression, replacing it with a sense of calmness. Suddenly her depression seemed almost insignificant, as if it belonged to some other person, and she smiled slightly before drifting off to sleep again.

That evening, as usual, she prepared dinner for herself and Raphael. They ate together in silence, and the atmosphere between them remained awkward. She tried several times to engage him in...