Same Table

They did not talk much at first. Shared meals and time spent together have been associated with stronger social bonds and improved emotional well-being, particularly within families (Fiese et al. 4).

Even quiet presence can reinforce feelings of belonging and mutual support, which are linked to lower stress and improved resilience over time (Holt-Lunstad et al. 233). Plates were passed. Space closed gently.

No one tried to fix anything. Unity, she noticed, often showed up as staying.

Works Cited (MLA)
Fiese, Barbara H., et al. “Family Mealtimes: A Context for Development.” Infant and Child Development, vol. 15, no. 2, 2006, pp. 1–15.
Holt-Lunstad, Julianne, et al. “Social Relationships and Mortality Risk.” PLoS Medicine, vol. 7, no. 7, 2010, pp. 227–237.