Maria froze, her body stiff as she stared at him. The world seemed to stop moving for a moment.
The noise of people and carts faded, replaced only by the fast thump of her heartbeat.
"You…" her voice came out weak, breaking.
Her eyes filled with tears before she could hold them back.
He looked just as shocked to see her. "Maria," he said gently, stepping closer, "please… let's just sit somewhere to talk."
Her lips trembled.
"You took her…" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Maria, please," he said again, his tone soft and nervous.
He motioned toward a small café near the corner of the supermarket.
She followed slowly, wiping her tears, her mind spinning.
They sat down. For a few seconds, no one spoke.
The silence between them was heavy — full of everything they never said all those years.
He finally sighed.
"I heard about your sister's death," he said quietly, not looking at her. "I'm really sorry."
Maria's jaw tightened.
