This incredible story laid its beginning in the mid-June. After my chief had cut my wage I had simply nothing to pay for the flat.
I forgot about new things, stopped meeting with friends. And food on a table reminded student’s lunch in increasing frequency. Then I decided to rent one of my rooms.
Living alone in a spacious three-room flat is, of course, a marvelous thing, but a single girl with a salary of eight hundred dollars cannot afford it.
The girlfriend advised me a good realtor. By the evening he has already taken photos of his new object.
Having published an advertisement in all well-known bases we got three customers the next day. In the person of two girls and one young man.
Initially I planned that a girl would be my neighbor, but having looked at the potential room-mates I trended to the side of the young man.
He was of a middle high, with short fair hair, in a dark-blue vinous-checked jacket. It seemed to me that an aristocrat from an english province. And as soon as he started speaking I understood I had not been in a wrong thought about him.
— Good evening. — He offered me his hand. — Henry Chaise.
— Olivia Newman. — I was surprised having offered a hand in return.
— Hope I won’t give you any inconvenience.
“About which inconvenience can we talk” – I thought – “when there is such a gentleman in front of me”. Even more I will say, for some reason I wanted him to cause me inconvenience. Because of these thoughts I turned red.
It is time for looking for a man, I pointed. Dry wine has already stopped saving me from loneliness.
— If you need something, I’ll be always near. Or you may call me, now you have my number. — I gave him a room key and smiling flirtatiously went to my own room.
Frankly speaking, I saw him only two times since he moved to me. Although a full week has already passed.
But once he strongly amazed me. I returned from a work and already from the doorstep heard nice music. The table in the kitchen was designed like in a restaurant. Candles, a bottle of expensive wine, half-filled glasses were standing there, and this wonderful smell of hot dishes that for me it is still hard to forget it.
— Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you’re waiting for guests. — I felt a little uneasy.
— Most likely I’m the guest in this flat. — he took the strain off correctly. — I made this dinner for you.
You cannot imagine how pleased was I. I did not have any words. It might seem I did not make a mistake in choosing my lodger.
— For what reason is such an honor, pardon me? — I politely showed interest in the reason of my amazement.
— A great success in work. In our family it was adopted to celebrate all of the achievements to strengthen positive emotions from your work. — He carefully moved the chair aside inviting me to sit at the table.
Food was just unbelievable. Not every restraint can offer such dishes, and including his service I fell into a fairy tale.
— And in which sphere do you work? — I asked hoping to learn at least something about my tenant.
— Everything is rather simple, I’m writing scientific efforts in physics. I have been interested in science since childhood, that’s why it’s a great pleasure to me in addition to work.
— I’ve never had a thought that I would be sitting in my kitchen with a young scientist. Moreover, drinking a red wine with him after the dinner he had made for me. — We laughed a bit. — Maybe we can go and watch a movie? Don’t think anything wrong, I just have a lack of communication.
— Unfortunately I can’t, I need to finish one job. It’s very important, please, understand me. Let’s go for a walk? Perhaps, tomorrow, nearly at 7 p.m.? — His politeness persuaded me not to fall into confusion.
— Thank you, Henry, it seems like I feel that I’m alive again. In recent times difficulties have completely deprived me of the sense of existence.
— We’re attracting difficulties by ourselves. If you’re bowled down, you need to make efforts to stand up, but we are lying down in the puddle and waiting for somebody to help us. People have totally lost their volition and belief in themselves. — He hugged me softly and wished good night. — I’ll take everything away, don’t worry. And more, Olivia. — I turned back and looked at him with hope. — Don’t forget, tomorrow at 7.
At night there was a loud clap behind the wall, and I slipped on a dressing gown and went to learn if everything is alright.
— Henry, are you okay? — There was a total silence behind the wall. — Henry!? — I repeated.
I took a spare key and opened his room, but it was empty. Nothing has changed there, everything was like at the time I leased it. And only the room reserved for the office was covered with thick curtains. I looked into it cautiously: there were some instruments standing everywhere, but Henry was not there, too. A black book was scattered about the floor, and I opened the first page after I had picked it up.
Then there was only a bright flash, and I was already lying on the floor. Eyesight began recover only after fifteen minutes. I felt like I had been sleeping for a thousand of years.
Having looked around I did not understand anything. I am lying amidst a field somewhere in the open, the sun is shining, and there is no a single man around.
I saw a road in the distance and made my way to it, it brought me to the first people. An elderly woman and a girl were going towards.
— Excuse me, could you tell me… — I did not even finish the sentence when they flung themselves aside from me as if they were dumbfounded.
Author: Shturenkov Sergey
Translation: Julia Zaporojets