I slowly pulled Tyler's door shut until I heard the soft click of the latch. The sound felt final. Leaning against the door, I lowered my head, my chest tightening as a cold, numbing weight settled deep inside me. Lucky and Cleo sat in front of me, their leashes slack in my grip. I lingered there, unable to step forward--because if I did, it would make everything real.
A quiet whimper from my dogs pulled me back to my senses. I crouched down and hugged them both, as if reassuring them that everything was going to be alright.
Was it? Am I alright?
Drawing courage from them, I took a deep breath and forced myself forward toward the stairs. Each step felt heavier than usual, but it had to be done.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, followed by its familiar ringtone. I glanced at the screen--building management. Shocked, I picked up and answered.
"Hello, good morning. This is Kyla speaking."
"Good morning, Ms. Kyla," a woman's voice replied. "We wanted to inform you that repairs in your apartment will begin today. Please make sure to gather any essential items to avoid misplacing anything important during the process."
"Alright," I said, my mind already racing through what I needed to pack.
"Additionally," she continued, "we'd like to offer you compensation for the inconvenience. Please visit our office at your earliest convenience so we can discuss the details."
"Oh." I blinked. That was... unexpected. Isn't this timing a little too convenient?
"Okay," I said slowly. "Let me grab my things and sort out accommodations for my dogs. I'll be down shortly. By the way, how long is the compensation period?"
"You've been compensated for seven days to cover the inconvenience. The repairs are expected to take about three to four days, but if they go beyond that, we're prepared to extend it as needed. Also, as stated in your contract, you won't need to pay rent this month due to the damages."
My eyes widened as I froze. "Wait, a full month of free rent?"
"Yes, that's correct."
I tightened my grip on the phone, a wave of unexpected excitement bubbling up... until I remembered Tyler.
"That's really generous of you. Thank you," I said. "But what about the other tenant I inconvenienced? Your maintenance guy went to him for assistance."
There was a brief pause. "Let me confirm that with management and get back to you."
"Alright," I said, shifting my weight. "I'll drop by your office soon to settle the details. If I have any other questions, I'll let you know."
"Sounds good, Ms. Kyla. Have a great day!"
"You too. Bye."
I ended the call and exhaled deeply. Seven days. A month of free rent. It had been a generous offer, but somehow, it only made me feel slightly better. I fought the urge to knock on Tyler's door and tell him the good news, but after seeing his reaction earlier, when he had retreated into himself and immediately put up those invisible walls, I knew it wouldn't help. A small chill had settled in my chest again as my dogs and I stepped inside the apartment.
Lucky and Cleo had sat quietly, their eyes following me as I paced back and forth, frantically trying to pack. I had forgotten how stressful it was to pack and leave home with two dogs in tow. I hadn't even figured out where we were going to stay during those days we couldn't return home. I glanced at them, my heart heavy. I knew I had to make sure we stuck together through all of this.
I rested my hand on my chin, the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me. That's when I had noticed the picture frame on my bedside table--one of the few photos I had. It had been a picture of Olivia and I, we had our arms around each other.
Olivia.
She had been the perfect person for my dogs and me. Not only had she never minded, but she also loved us unconditionally. Just thinking about her could instantly lift my mood. She had been my ray of sunshine beneath the darkest clouds, always by my side through every high and low. But what truly made her stand out was her kindness—she had been the kindest person I have ever met.
Her confidence was quiet but undeniable, and though not everyone understood it, it was one of the things I admired most about her. She championed equality, never allowing anyone to make her feel inferior, nor letting anyone think they were above her.
What kept our friendship strong over the years had been our unspoken understanding of each other's lives. Even when we couldn't talk every day or hadn't seen each other for months, when we reunited, it always felt like nothing has changed.
I knew, without a doubt, that she had my back--always there when I needed it, with a strength that spoke louder than words.
I grabbed my phone and dialed Olivia's number.
It rang twice before Olivia answered, her cheerful voice greeting me instantly.
"Kz! What's up? You sound like you could use a little sunshine," she had said, her tone as bright as always.
Despite the stress, I couldn't help but smile. "Hey, Liv. I could really use a favor," I said. "Would it be alright if my dogs and I crash at your place for a while? I don't have anywhere else to go, and I'm still trying to figure things out."
There was a brief silence before Olivia responded, her voice warm and full of enthusiasm. "Of course! You, Lucky, and Cleo are always welcome here. I've got plenty of room. Come on over whenever you're ready. I'm happy to help. You know that."
Relief had flooded me, and I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Thank you, Olivia. I really appreciate it."
"No problem at all. I'm just glad I can be here for you. We'll figure it out together," she had said cheerfully.
"I'll get everything ready and be over soon. Thanks again, Liv," I said, feeling the warmth in her voice. It made everything feel a little easier.
"Anytime, Kz. Anytime. See you soon," she said, and I could practically feel her smiling through the phone.
"See you soon," I echoed, ending the call with a sense of relief that I hadn't realized I needed so badly.
There! Now that I had a place to go, I could breathe a little easier. But first, I needed to take care of one more thing. I headed downstairs to the building's management office to sort out the compensation and to ask about Tyler.
The idea of seeing the management was a little less comforting now. As much as I was grateful for the offer, part of me couldn't shake the feeling that the whole situation with Tyler still lingered, like an unspoken tension that refused to fade. But this had to be done. I could figure out the rest later.
I entered the management office, my nerves still a little on edge. The woman behind the desk greeted me with a warm smile, which was filled with the kind of sympathy.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Kyla. Please, take a seat," she said, gesturing to the chair across from her. I sat down, feeling a little uncomfortable under the weight of the situation.
"I'm sure you've already been informed, but I want to personally apologize for the inconvenience you've experienced with the damage to your bathroom," she continued. "We understand how disruptive it must have been, especially with the repairs being delayed for so long."
I nodded, though the frustration still lingered beneath the surface. "It's been tough, but I appreciate the gesture. It's just... it took longer than I expected."
She nodded sympathetically. "Yes, I understand, and again, we truly apologize. The repairs were delayed because our contractors were dealing with an unexpected backlog of work, and we had to prioritize more urgent cases. But we're finally at a point where we can address everything, and I assure you, it won't be delayed any further."
I let out a soft sigh, grateful that things were finally moving forward.
"I see. Thank you for explaining."
The woman slid a small envelope across the desk toward me, her tone turning more formal as she spoke. "As we discussed, we are offering compensation for the inconvenience you've experienced. This is a seven-day reimbursement for your troubles, and as a further gesture of goodwill, your rent for the month will be waived, as per the terms of your contract."
I opened the envelope, seeing a check inside, my heart lifting slightly. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it was something. "Thank you," I said, the words coming out more softly than I intended.
She gave a nod, as if expecting my gratitude. "I'm glad we could offer some assistance, Ms. Kyla. We understand how disruptive this situation has been for you."
I paused for a moment, thinking about the other person affected by the repairs--Tyler. I felt a pang of guilt for not reaching out sooner, and I needed to make sure he was taken care of too. "I have a question, actually. What about the other tenant who was also inconvenienced by the repairs? Tyler. He's the one who had to help with my situation..."
The woman looked at her notes for a moment before responding, her tone more businesslike. "Ah, yes. We're aware of Mr. Tyler's situation as well. After reviewing the circumstances, we've decided to offer him a rent waiver for half of his monthly rent. We understand that he had to deal with a lot of disruption as well, and we want to make sure he's compensated fairly for his troubles."
My eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Half? That's... generous."
"Yes," she confirmed, "We believe it's fair given the extent of the inconvenience he faced, and we hope it helps make up for the frustration."
I nodded slowly, a mix of relief and uncertainty settling in my chest. "I'm glad to hear that. I just... I wasn't sure if he was going to get anything."
"Rest assured, Ms. Kyla," she said, offering a reassuring smile. "We make it a priority to treat all tenants fairly, and Tyler is no exception."
I exhaled deeply, feeling the weight lift slightly off my shoulders. It wasn't perfect, but at least things were moving in the right direction. "Alright. Thank you for taking care of this. I'll be sure to pass along the information to Tyler."
"Of course. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to reach out," the woman said as I stood up, offering me a polite nod.
"Thanks again," I said, the words feeling hollow but necessary. I took the check and made my way out of the office, the conversation leaving me with mixed emotions. At least they also compensated him for his troubles. This gave me a little bit of relief.
I quickly booked a Grab car that allowed dogs to ride, and after pinning Olivia's place on the map, I hesitated for a moment. "Alright, let's get this over with," I muttered to myself. With Lucky and Cleo settled in their carriers, I stepped outside and told the driver to wait. I still needed to grab a few things from upstairs.
As I turned back to the building, my eyes drifted up to the balcony of Tyler's apartment. There he was, standing at the railing, cigarette in hand. Our gazes locked for the briefest moment, and I couldn't help but feel my heart tug. But before I could even process the emotion stirring in me, he coldly turned around and disappeared back into his apartment.
My breath caught in my throat, and an icy pang shot through my chest. My hands trembled slightly as I bit my lip, trying to suppress the surge of hurt. I lowered my head, not wanting anyone to see how much his silent dismissal had stung.
Why did it feel like he was trying to shut me out completely?
I took a deep, shaky breath and turned back toward the stairs. I could feel my chest tightening again. It was stupid to let that moment get to me.
But before I stepped up the stairs, my feet stopped on their own. I hesitated, my gaze drawn to his door. I wanted to knock, to tell him about the compensation, to let him know the building had agreed to waive half of his rent as an apology for the inconvenience the repairs had caused.
I stood there for a long moment, fighting with myself. I felt an impulse to reach out, to do the right thing for him, but that cold look he gave me on the balcony still lingered in my mind. My heart clenched as I remembered the way he'd turned away without even acknowledging me.
I couldn't do it. Not now, not after that. I glanced down at the floor, swallowing back the words that felt stuck in my throat. With a heavy sigh, I turned around and walked back toward my apartment.
Once inside, I grabbed my bags and a few essentials for myself and the dogs, moving quickly. I couldn't focus on anything for long---the urgency to leave pushed me forward. Every motion felt automatic...
Downstairs, the cab was waiting, and I climbed in, letting the door shut behind me with a sense of finality. The dogs settled in next to me, their familiar warmth providing a small sense of comfort.
As the car pulled away from the building, I couldn't help but glance back, half-expecting Tyler to be standing at the door, watching me leave. But there was nothing. Only the quiet streets, and a heart that felt a little more uncertain than before.