Episode 5: The Wrong Address
1323 Words
The elderly woman stood at the doorway, one hand holding a grocery bag while the other rested against the door.
Adrian stood in front of her, suddenly unsure of what to say.
He glanced at his phone again.
Then at the apartment number.
Then back at her.
"Excuse me," he said politely. "I'm looking for someone who used to live here. His name is Ethan Brooks."
The woman thought for a moment.
"Ethan Brooks?"
Adrian nodded quickly.
"Yes."
She shook her head.
"I'm sorry. I don't know anyone by that name."
Adrian's heart dropped.
"But this is the address I was given."
"Then whoever gave it to you must have given you an old address."
Adrian stared at her.
"An old address?"
"Yes."
She shifted the grocery bag in her hand.
"I've been living here for almost a year."
Adrian blinked.
"Almost a year?"
"Yes."
"So Ethan doesn't live here anymore?"
"No."
"When did he move?"
The woman shrugged.
"I honestly couldn't tell you."
Adrian's shoulders sank.
"Right."
He looked at the address again.
Of course.
Of all the things that could go wrong...
He had finally found Ethan's address, only to discover that it wasn't Ethan's address anymore.
He let out a quiet sigh.
The woman looked at him curiously.
"Is he a friend of yours?"
Adrian hesitated.
"Yes."
"An old friend?"
"Very old."
She smiled politely.
"Then I'm sorry I can't help you."
"No, it's okay."
Adrian gave her a small smile.
"Thank you anyway."
He turned around.
He had barely taken two steps when the woman spoke again.
"Wait."
Adrian turned.
"Yes?"
"I think the landlord might still have his old information."
Adrian's eyes brightened.
"Really?"
"Possibly. I don't know if he would give it to you, though."
"That's fine."
Adrian nodded.
"Do you happen to have his number?"
The woman shook her head.
"No."
Adrian's excitement disappeared.
"Oh."
"I don't deal with the landlord directly. My son handles those things for me."
"Of course."
There was another awkward silence.
Adrian smiled politely.
"Thank you for trying."
The woman nodded.
"You're welcome."
He turned and walked away.
The door closed behind him.
Adrian stopped halfway down the hallway.
He stared at the floor.
"Brilliant."
He rubbed his face.
"Absolutely brilliant."
Ten years.
He had spent ten years away from Ethan.
Then Ethan finally sent him a ring and a four-word message.
And when Adrian decided to find him...
He couldn't even get past the front door.
---
Outside the building, Adrian climbed into his car.
He placed both hands on the steering wheel but didn't start the engine.
He stared straight ahead.
The whole thing was almost funny.
Almost.
He had spent years surrounded by people.
Agents.
Directors.
Actors.
Assistants.
Fans.
Journalists.
Yet when it came to finding one person...
He was completely helpless.
His phone buzzed.
His manager.
Adrian answered.
"Hello."
"So?"
Adrian sighed.
"Wrong address."
There was a pause.
"What?"
"Ethan moved."
"When?"
"I don't know."
"Did you talk to anyone who knows where he lives?"
"No."
"Did you get his number?"
"No."
"Did you—"
"Nothing."
His manager went quiet.
Adrian leaned his head against the seat.
"I don't even know why I'm laughing."
"You're laughing?"
"A little."
"Why?"
"Because this is ridiculous."
He looked at the old promise lying on the passenger seat.
"I finally decide to find my best friend after ten years, and I can't even find his apartment."
His manager was quiet.
Then he said,
"You know where he works."
Adrian looked up.
"Yes."
"Then go there."
Adrian frowned.
"I told you I don't want to show up at his workplace."
"Why?"
"Because it's been ten years."
"And?"
"And I don't know what he'll think."
"Adrian..."
His manager sighed.
"You received a wedding ring from the man. I think you're already past the point of worrying about whether he'll think you're strange."
Adrian looked at the ring box.
He couldn't argue with that.
"Still..."
"Just talk to him."
Adrian was silent.
"I don't know if I can."
"Then figure it out."
The call ended.
Adrian remained in the car.
He looked toward the hospital district in the distance.
Saint Matthew Children's Hospital.
---
Saint Matthew Children's Hospital
Ethan had no idea what was happening.
His afternoon had been filled with back-to-back patients.
He was currently sitting in the doctors' lounge, eating a late lunch while reviewing patient notes.
His colleague, Daniel, sat across from him.
"You know what I find strange about you?"
Ethan didn't look up.
"There are too many possibilities."
"You've been working here for years."
"Yes."
"You're thirty."
"Yes."
"You're attractive."
Ethan looked up.
"Where is this going?"
Daniel grinned.
"You've never seriously dated anyone."
Ethan went back to his food.
"I'm busy."
"That's your excuse for everything."
"It's not an excuse."
"You spend twelve hours a day at the hospital."
"Sometimes fourteen."
"Exactly."
Ethan sighed.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Date someone."
"Who?"
"Anyone."
Ethan laughed.
"That's terrible advice."
Daniel shrugged.
"Fine. Date someone specific."
"Such as?"
Daniel pointed toward the cafeteria.
"There's a nurse who likes you."
Ethan almost choked on his drink.
"What?"
Daniel laughed.
"Don't worry. I won't tell her you know."
"Daniel."
"What?"
"I'm not interested."
"Why?"
Ethan paused.
He didn't know how to answer.
He had tried dating.
A few times.
Nothing ever lasted.
It wasn't because he didn't meet good people.
He simply never felt that strange certainty people talked about.
That feeling of looking at someone and thinking:
This is my person.
Perhaps that was why he had stopped trying.
Or perhaps...
There was another reason.
A reason he rarely allowed himself to think about.
A familiar face.
A ridiculous promise.
A boy beneath an oak tree.
Ethan pushed the thought away.
"We're talking about something else."
Daniel smiled knowingly.
"Sure."
Ethan rolled his eyes.
His phone vibrated on the table.
He glanced at it.
Nothing important.
He turned it face down.
He had no idea that, at that very moment, Adrian was sitting inside a car several kilometers away, trying to convince himself to walk into the same hospital.
---
Adrian eventually drove to Saint Matthew Children's Hospital.
He parked across the street.
For several minutes, he didn't get out.
The hospital was enormous.
People walked in and out through the main entrance.
Doctors rushed between buildings.
Parents carried children.
Nurses pushed medical equipment down the corridors.
And somewhere inside that building...
Was Ethan.
Adrian's heart began beating faster.
He reached for the door handle.
Stopped.
He leaned back.
"What am I supposed to say?"
He imagined the conversation.
Hello, Ethan.
Too simple.
It's been a long time.
Too obvious.
So... about that marriage promise...
Absolutely terrible.
Adrian groaned.
"Why is this harder than acting?"
He looked at himself in the rearview mirror.
For once, he wasn't the confident actor everyone knew.
He looked nervous.
Almost twenty years younger.
Like the same university student who had once written a ridiculous promise on a piece of paper.
His phone buzzed.
A message from his manager.
Are you going in?
Adrian typed back.
I'm thinking.
The reply came almost immediately.
You've been thinking for fifteen minutes.
Adrian frowned.
Stop monitoring me.
Go inside.
Adrian laughed.
He put his phone away.
Then finally opened the car door.
He stepped onto the pavement.
One foot.
Then another.
He crossed the street.
With every step, his heartbeat grew louder.
He reached the hospital entrance.
The automatic doors slid open.
Adrian stopped.
He stared into the busy lobby.
Somewhere in there was Ethan.
His best friend.
The person he hadn't spoken to in ten years.
The man who had just sent him a wedding ring.
Adrian took a deep breath.
Then walked inside.
---
He had no idea that, only two floors above him, Ethan was still sitting in the doctors' lounge.
And Ethan had no idea that the person he had been waiting ten years to hear from...
Was finally inside the hospital.
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