He Promised Me A Home And Gave It To Her Chapter 10

After graduation, I stayed in Westhaven.

My university recommended me for an engineering position at a local research institute.

The pay wasn’t anything spectacular, but it was enough for a small apartment with a balcony.

The day I signed the lease, my landlord handed me three keys.

“This one’s for the building entrance.”

“This one opens your apartment.”

“And here’s a spare. You can give it to a family member if you want.”

I stared at the three shiny new keys for a few seconds.

Summer held out her hand.

“I’ll take that one.”

“That way, when you’re working late, I can come over and feed your cat.”

I dropped the spare key into her palm.

“Deal.”

“But keep your hands off the cake in my fridge.”

“Please. Like I’d want your cake.”

She scoffed, then immediately snapped a picture and posted it to her Instagram Story.

[Elena’s got a new place! Taco night tonight. Someone bring ground beef!]

That evening, my coworkers from the research institute packed into my living room.

Some were chopping vegetables, others were fighting over the TV remote, and someone spilled Coke on the carpet, earning themselves an earful from Summer as she chased after them.

I stood in the kitchen, listening to the noise and laughter coming from the living room.

For the first time in a long while, I felt completely at ease.

My phone lit up.

Jace had sent me a photo.

He’d renovated the apartment above his family’s grocery store.

The old note was back in its original spot.

[Elena gets low blood sugar. Candy’s on the second shelf.]

There was a new line underneath it.

[But she’s not coming back.]

Julian sent me a picture of an award-winning painting he’d made.

In it, three boys stood in the rain, watching a girl walk toward the distant sunlight.

Orion sent only a short message.

Orion: [Congrats on the new place.]

I sent a simple reply.

Me: [Thank you.]

I didn’t hate them.

And I had no regrets.

Some people can stand beside you through the worst storms and still not be there when the skies finally clear.

The warmth they’d given me had been real.

So had all the times they’d chosen to leave me behind.

I didn’t have to erase the good memories just because they’d hurt me later.

And I didn’t have to keep accepting that hurt just because they’d once been good to me.

The doorbell rang.

Summer called from the living room.

“Elena, the food’s here!”

“Hurry up! I’m starving!”

I set my phone down and went to collect the delivery.

The driver checked the apartment number.

“Elena Shaw?”

“That’s me.”

“Enjoy your food!”

I closed the door.

On the little table by the entrance lay the old cord I’d worn around my neck for eight years.

The three keys were long gone. Only the faded knot remained.

I’d never thrown it away.

But I hadn’t put it back on, either.

I hung the keys to my new home beside it.

A breeze drifted in through the window, setting the new keys gently jingling.

Summer poked her head into the hallway.

“What are you doing over there?”

“Coming!”

I headed into the brightly lit living room.

The door closed quietly behind me.

This time, the keys were in my hands.

And inside were people who genuinely wanted me to come home.