THE GIFT

Meeting Elias

*THE GIFT*

*Chapter 1*

The first time Elias brought me soup, I almost threw it at him.

It was chicken and rice. Lila’s recipe. The one Mom made when we had fevers and bad days and grief.

He stood on my porch with steam fogging up the plastic lid and said, “You look like you haven’t eaten in days.”

I hadn’t.

Three years since the hit and run. Three years since the police called it an accident and closed the file. Three years since I started answering the door with a knife in my back pocket.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Your new neighbor,” he said. “Apartment 4B. I heard you through the wall. Coughing.”

I hadn’t been coughing. I’d been crying.

He didn’t wait for an invitation. He just set the soup on my doorstep, like an offering. Like he knew I wouldn’t let him in.

“Eat it while it’s hot,” he said. “And I’m sorry about your sister. Lila, right? I saw the memorial post.”

The air left my lungs.

No one said her name. Not out loud. Not to me.

“How do you know—”

“My mom was friends with your aunt,” he lied smoothly. Too smoothly. “Small town.”

He smiled. And god help me, it was a kind smile. The kind that made you want to believe people were good again.

I took the soup. It was still warm in my hands.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He nodded, then turned to leave. Halfway down the steps he stopped.

“Oh. I’m Elias,” he called over his shoulder.

“Elias who makes really good soup.”

I watched him go. Apartment 4B.

That night I ate all of it.

And for the first time in three years, I didn’t dream about taillights and screeching tires.

I dreamed about someone sitting on the other side of my bed, reading to me until I fell asleep.

I woke up to a paper star on my windowsill.

Folded from sheet music. Lila’s favorite song.

I told myself it was a coincidence.

Small town , right?

I walked to the living room , watching through the window, if I might see him around but nothing .

I looked around on my porch. A container with a sticky note attached stood on my doorstep.

Was it him? Was it Elias?

Why would he want to bring me food then ? What's his agenda?

Maybe I'm overthinkingaybe he's just a good neighbor .

I walked to the door and unlocked it.

I opened the door and looked around no one's around.Good.

I picked up the container and went in the house and locked the door again.

I leaned against the door , looking down at the sticky note :

I ll keep feeding you till you feel better.

Elias

Just like that .What is he trying to imply, that I can't feed myself now.Why would?

Maybe he is a kind person .

I opened the container and the scent of fresh bread drifted to my nostrils.It was a very long time since I had a freshly baked bread with cheese on it .

It tasted really good .I never thought i would except a man's cooking but if he can cooks like this , he's good .

No ,what I'm i thinking now .I wonder when he ll cane and get the container because I'm not gonna walk all the way across the street .

I hate walking here . Neighbours gleaming at me like i have their panties on .And then there's Alice always saying it's my fault my sister's dead .

I started crying again.She was so good to me .Always there when I need her . Sharing everything together.

Suddenly the doorbell interrupted my thoughts . I dried my tears and walked to the window to peek.

I drew back the curtain.My eyes darted to the door.

"No,no ,no." I wispered.