“Ma’am, excuse the bother, but something strange is happening at your house. A moving truck arrived about an hour ago, but instead of bringing things in, they are taking everything out.”
I smiled involuntarily. It was strange to feel that someone worried about me, even if it was a stranger.
“Do not worry, Mr. David. Everything is under control.”
“Are you sure? Because I also saw the furniture company taking away sofas and a large table, and now there is an appliance van.”
His voice sounded genuinely concerned. He was an older man. You could tell by his slow and polite tone.
“Very kind of you to worry. Yes, I authorized all of that.”
“Oh, good. It is just that yesterday I saw you so excited when you were checking the garden. I thought something bad had happened.”
“You saw me yesterday in the garden?”
“Yes, ma’am. I was watering my plants when you arrived with a notebook, writing things down. You looked so happy planning where to put the flowers.”
I got a lump in my throat. It was true. Yesterday afternoon I had gone to measure the garden, to imagine where I would put the rose bushes I wanted to plant. It had been one of the happiest moments of the last few weeks.
“Yes. I had many plans for that garden.”
“And you do not have them anymore?”
There was an awkward silence. I did not know how to explain to a stranger what had happened.
“The situation changed, Mr. David.”
“Well, Mrs. Emily, I do not meddle in other people’s business, but if you need anything, I live alone in the house next door. I am a widower too, and I know what it is to be alone at this stage of life.”
His words went straight to my heart. It had been a long time since anyone spoke to me with such warmth, without wanting anything in return.
“Very kind, Mr. David. Truly.”
“By the way, ma’am, a van just arrived with four people. A very upset young woman and three older people with suitcases.”
At ten-thirty, my phone rang again. This time it was Sarah.
“Mom, what did you do? The house is completely empty.”
Her voice sounded hysterical, furious. But there was also something else. There was real panic in her tone.
“Hello, Sarah. How did the move go?”
“Do not be funny. Where is all the furniture? Where is the television? Linda and Robert are standing in an empty house with their suitcases.”
“Oh, that. I returned it all. I was not going to need it.”
“You are crazy. How can you do such a thing? Do you have any idea what it cost?”
“Of course I know. I paid for it.”
“Mom, you have to fix this right now. Robert already spent money on gas for the moving truck. Linda brought food to cook today.”
“Sarah, I do not have to fix anything. You all decided for me. Now decide how to resolve this too.”
“This is ridiculous. You are so selfish. A bitter old woman.”
The words hurt more than I expected. It was my daughter speaking to me like that. The girl I had raised with so much love was now shouting at me as if I were her enemy.
“Where are you? Come here immediately.”
I looked out the hotel window. The elderly man was still feeding the pigeons in the square. He looked calm, without rushing, without shouting on the phone.
“I am not coming. Sarah, I already did my part. I bought the house. The rest is your problem.”
“Mom, this cannot be happening. Linda is crying. She says she feels humiliated.”
“Sarah, at any moment, did you ask yourself how I felt?”
“What do you mean?”
