Her nervous tension grew by the minute, and she realized she couldn’t wait any longer. In a frenzy, she grabbed her phone and decided to seek help from neighbors through the building’s group chat, where residents typically discussed utility issues and shared news.
“Maybe someone can suggest what to do?” she thought hopefully, sending a message. “Good evening, everyone! Does anyone know who to call if a pipe bursts?” It was a cry for help, though honestly, her expectations were low since it was well past midnight. But a few minutes later, her phone pinged.
Filled with hope, she opened the chat and found not a reply in the group but a private message from a neighbor. “Which apartment are you in? I can come check your pipe,” he wrote. “Apartment 5, eighth floor,” Emily replied, barely catching her breath.
Minutes later, the doorbell rang. The homeowner froze for a moment, hesitating.
Should she let a stranger into her apartment, especially in the middle of the night? If her husband found out, it could spark a huge fight, she thought. But then a wiser idea struck her. She could say it was an emergency plumber. Finally, she opened the door to find a tall, sturdy young man with a friendly smile.
“Where’s the trouble?” “Saw your message and couldn’t just ignore it. I had a pipe burst recently too. What a hassle,” he said with a chuckle, holding a toolbox.
Emily recognized him instantly—he was the guy she often saw in the parking lot and hallway. It turned out to be Ethan, her new neighbor, and as it became clear, a true handyman. Within 20 minutes, the soaked sheets were replaced with two sturdy clamps, securely stopping the leak.
“I just moved to this city,” Ethan shared, packing up his tools. “Don’t know many people here yet. Guess this is how we meet.”
“So, if anything comes up, we’ll help each other out like neighbors should,” Ethan smiled warmly, and Emily nodded eagerly. “I’m so grateful for your help. But I’ll probably still need to call a plumber,” she said, still unsure if the problem was fully resolved.
“That’s a job for tomorrow,” Ethan laughed, gathering the last of his tools. “Let the utility folks get their beauty sleep. There’s this one lady here, a real piece of work.”
“If a single drop reaches her place, brace for war. She’ll make your life miserable.” “You mean Victoria?” Emily guessed.
“Exactly. She’s my next-door neighbor,” Ethan replied with a smirk, finishing up. “A pretty lady like you must have a husband, right?” he asked playfully.
“Of course,” Emily confirmed calmly, lifting her chin slightly, proud of the fact. “Well, good. Let everyone know you’re a respectable woman, not flirting with just anyone,” Ethan winked playfully, spreading his hands.
“Seriously, though, I’ve got an idea. I have an extra ticket to a stand-up show by a famous comedian tomorrow. Got two from work, but no one to go with. I barely know anyone here.”
The offer was tempting. With Noah away, a dull, lonely evening loomed ahead. Emily quickly considered that it could be a nice distraction, but she knew such an outing wasn’t entirely appropriate for a married woman.
“No, thank you so much, but I can’t,” she replied, trying to hide a hint of regret, shaking her head slightly. Deep down, she really wanted to go, especially since it would help her unwind. But the thought of neighbors spotting her and spreading gossip that could reach Noah held her back.
Emily didn’t want a moment of fun to spark rumors that could strain her marriage. The next morning, she rushed to the bathroom to check the pipe. To her immense relief, everything was in perfect order.
The two new clamps Ethan had installed held the old pipe firmly, with no signs of a leak. She even ran her fingers along the repair, genuinely thrilled the ordeal was over. But then her eyes caught a pair of pliers Ethan had accidentally left on the floor.
“I should return these. He went out of his way to help!” she muttered, slipping on a jacket. The forgotten pliers almost made her laugh, a reminder of the recent chaos. Emily decided it was only right to thank Ethan again and return his tool.
After all, he’d been respectful and kind, helping without hesitation when she needed it most. Minutes later, she stood in his building’s hallway, facing four identical metal doors. A slight confusion hit her, as each door looked the same.