Redmption 142
Sometimes, a swift cut was the best way to untangle a mess.
I hoped Brandon would be the de that would help me sever my ties with Chris.
After hanging up on Gordon, I continued organizing my trinkets and tidying up the house. Brandon
had neatly folded the pink nket he usedst night and ced it on the bed.
An image of Brandon using that small pink nket made meugh.
Life was full of hardships, but it also had its asional, unexpected joys.
Although Gordon’s news should have made me anxious, I didn’t let it bother me. I was surprisingly
calm andposed, waiting for the termination call from my new employer.
However, I managed to clean my little apartment, tidy up all theers, and even tended to the
flowers on the balcony, but my phone remained silent.
Finally, I brewed a pot of tea and sat on the rocking chair on the balcony to read. Then I heard
voices from below.
I leaned over to see a few people delivering furniture and two movers.
They were smoking and chatting and a few minutester, I saw thendy arrive on her electric
tricycle.
I understood then. It was furniture for the new tenant
Thinking about the new male neighbor, especially afterst night’s incident with my date, I suddenly
felt it might not be bad to have a man living next door. If I ever found myself in danger again, I could
knock on his door for help.
With that thought, I smiled and returned to my book and tea, until I heard a knock on my door.
I opened it to find thendy who smiled apologetically as she said, “Maddie, I’m really sorry.
She was expressing her regret for not being able to help me negotiate the rent.
I smiled back. “It’s alright.”
Looking at the open door across the hall and the newly ced furniture, I asked, “When will the new
neighbor move in?”
“Today,” thendy replied while shaking her head. “He said he wasn’t in a hurry, but early this
morning he called and insisted on moving in today. He asked me to have everything ready.”
I nodded and responded casually, “In such a hurry, huh?”
Thendy sighed, “Young people’s minds are hard to understand. But he seems like a good guy.
You! don’t need to worry. I’ve told him to be a good neighbor.”
Iughed. “I’ll try my best to get along with the new neighbor.”
“By the w
way, Maddie, do you have a mop? I was in such a rush that I forgot to bring one. I want to mop the
floor before handing over the keys,” thendy said in an embarrassed tone.
“Sure, I’ll get it for you.” I went to the bathroom to fetch the mop. When I returned, thendy was
on the phone inside her apartment. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.
I took the mop to the new neighbor’s ce. The room had been simply painted white. There was a
new bed and a desk with a bookshelf,
2/2
Thendy finished her call and came over to thank me and exined, “This young man didn’t
mind the old furniture except for the bed and bookshelf. Look at that bed. Doesn’t it look fine? Well,
he insisted on recing it.”
She added while shaking her head, “He wouldn’t take no for an answer, so he paid for it himself.”
I didn’tment. I just nced around briefly, then excused myself and returned to my apartment.
By evening, I still hadn’t received a termination call, which puzzled me. I even wondered if my
phone was
broken.
I called Lisa to check, but my phone was working fine.
When Lisa heard aboutst night’s incident and Brandon’s heroic rescue, she immediately
eximed,” Mae, are you serious about him? This guy is amazing. I can’t wait to meet him!”
I rocked gently in the chair. “When I’m ready to take him seriously, you’ll meet him.”
Lisa clicked her tongue. “So you’re interested, huh?”
I looked at my toes and said, “I’m not heartless.”
Brandon had saved me and helped me more than once
“Mae, I’m really happy you’re moving on from Chris, who was such a jerk, Lisa said. She seemed
genuinely concerned for me and had no ulterior motives.