On the first Monday without Daris, Mladen bought two bread rolls. He only noticed the mistake on the bench behind the building where they usually ate lunch. He took the second roll back to the office and left it on the empty desk. Daris had changed jobs, stayed in the same city, and promised they would keep meeting. Mladen knew people often made such promises while searching for where they had left their charger.

He messaged him on Thursday. They met at a restaurant near Daris's new company. Mladen described the broken coffee machine, the changed internet password, and a minor argument Daris could no longer fully understand. Daris tried explaining his new job. After twenty minutes they ran out of subjects, and Mladen felt as though someone had taken away their shared language.

He was about to request the bill when Daris took out a small box. He had bought a model boat for his nephew and did not know whether it would survive the bus journey. Mladen asked whether he liked boats himself. Smiling, Daris admitted his apartment was full of models. They had eaten together for four years, and Mladen had not known this. Nor had Daris known that Mladen traveled to dance evenings in another city every winter.

The next time they met on Saturday. Without a work break limiting them, they spent an entire afternoon walking beside the river. Daris spoke about his father, Mladen about his former partner. There was no grand revelation or startled withdrawal. Daris simply said his last relationship had also ended badly, then changed sides of the path to walk nearer the water.

Mladen touched his hand first. Daris did not withdraw it, but stopped. He said he was afraid of spoiling their friendship. Mladen looked toward a bench where they had never sat. He had no guarantee to offer. He admitted being afraid too, but no longer wanted to buy a second bread roll and pretend he only missed someone to talk to during his break.

The first kiss was brief and slightly awkward, interrupted by a cyclist ringing his bell behind them. They laughed and moved out of the way. Daris suggested that Mladen come and see his boats. Mladen asked whether dinner was included. They agreed on pasta, without promising that either of them would prepare it well.

On Monday Mladen bought two rolls again. This time he left the second at home, on a plate beside Daris's watch. At work they asked how his weekend had been. He said he had learned a great deal about boats. Nobody requested details, which suited him perfectly that morning.