The stranger

Neighbor

Upon entering, Lauri was greeted by Alicia, a tall, slender, and elegant Hispanic woman with a strong accent, and her son Eddie, a towering figure with caramel skin, green eyes, and a radiant smile. A very handsome man, according to Lauri. "If I had puberty, I'd probably be drooling," she thought to herself. She nodded politely to greet them.

Eddie: Hey, Lauri! Nice to see you here. I hope you're hungry because we made tons of lasagna.

Alicia: Oh eggs!

Alicia quickly kissed Lauri on the forehead, making her feel uneasy, before diving for the basket and starting to put the eggs in the refrigerator, exclaiming that she had never tasted such good eggs in her life. She put away the Mason jar and filled a Tupperware with lasagna before placing it in the basket. Shortly after, the dog grabbed his belongings and vanished into the forest.

Lauri: What's all this?

Eddie: We tried to visit the new neighbor, but they always ran away when they saw us coming. Once, I saw them dart out the back window and sprint barefoot into the woods until we couldn't see them anymore. But two months ago, we left a cherry pie that Mom made, and ever since then, he or she sends their dog to bring us eggs, and we keep giving them meals. We've written several messages to them, but they've never responded.

Lauri: "they"?

Eddie: Yeah, we don't know if it's a man or a woman so we named them "they/them".

Alicia: I say it's a girl! She have long long, beautiful red hair. Like fire.

Eddie: And I saw his face! It’s a guy.

Alicia: She's so petite and agile. Looked like a woman.

Eddie: A man can be small and agile, I say it’s a man.

Alicia: Bet 10 on it.

Eddie nodded with a radiant smile. Lauri watched them like they were crazy.

Lauri: So... we're taught not to talk to strangers, not to accept candy or toys in case they're deranged psychopaths, but you're accepting eggs from someone who's avoiding you?

Alicia: Yes, see? You get it! And we give meals in exchange!

She folded, nodding their way as she sat down in front of a plate. After a few bites, she couldn't help but unleash her curiosity, and she ended up asking a thousand questions about the stranger. Apparently, ten or eleven years ago, there was a family living in that house, but the father had a downward spiral and murdered his wife and children by throwing them into the Rift zone. According to the town's mayor, one of the uncle inherited the house but he never lived there. Although, three times a year, someone would maintain the house. That was until a few month ago, when a cousin decided to live there instead.

The rift murder was a legend in this town and no one dared to go there, fearing the ghosts story they invented through the years. No one knew what could be happening on the other side of the rift. The father must have threw his family in a mini-Rift which amounted to a life sentence or death penalty as it was considered murder.

She sighed as a memory resurfaced. About two years ago, when she was around seven, she vividly recalled feeling like a monster was following her on her way home. Terrified, she hid in a bush and stayed there all night, too scared to move. After that incident, she got really sick. It was around the same time her brother started using drugs because the doctor prescribed her some strong medicine by “mistake”. He was obviously fired, but the deed was done.

Once she finished eating, she helped Alicia with the dishes before Eddie accompanied her home. She told him not to, but he was not letting her off the hook.

On their way, they were joined by Violet, Steve, and Fabienne, Eddie’s friends. She wasn't sure how to talk to them; they seemed friendly enough, but she had overheard them speaking about her brother as if he were the worst person alive. She couldn't shake the feeling that they might harbor the same sentiments toward her, but restrained because Eddie liked her. Gritting her teeth, she forced a smile when they greeted her. After exchanging a few words, Violet, as usual, buried her nose in her phone, her long nails clicking away on the screen as she gossiped about other people in town.

Violet: Oh my, you know that Daphne and Paul had s*x in Ronald vineyard?

Fabienne: Chut! There’s a child.

Fabienne shyly pointed towards Lauri with her chin, widening her deep brown eyes. Lauri rolled her eyes with a sigh, while Violet mimicked her friend, her attention shifting back to her phone.

Lauri: It’s fine.

Eddie: No, she’s right. There are some things you might be too young to understand.

Lauri: Like what?

Steve: Well what do you think is s*x?

Lauri: It’s when poeple kiss!

Steve: YES! Exactly! That’s right! S*x means kissing!

She rolled her eyes again, feeling stupid as she knew he said it that way because she was wrong. She just didn’t know exactly why she was wrong, but she was sure she felt insulted. Meanwhile, Eddie friendly but firmly hit his friends arm with a disapproved look on his face.

Eddie: Lying to her wont solve anything you dumb butt. As for you, no, it doesn’t mean kissing, but I really should not be the one explaining it. Especially since you’re so young. I’ll ask my mom if she could tell you more about it. If you are curious, of course.

She felt annoyed. She told herself that if she could handle knowing about her brother's and family's drug addictions, deaths, and gambling, then there was no way she would be too immature to handle knowledge about s*x.

Frustrated and annoyed, they ended up reaching the street where her brother lived.

She half-heartedly hugged Eddie goodbye and hesitated for a moment before opening the door to her brother's trailer.

It was a mess. She attempted to tidy up, but the fatigue overwhelmed her. Pushing through, she managed to pick up a bit, but when she lifted a pile of dirty clothes that had fallen from the wardrobe, she jumped in shock to find her brother buried underneath, tightly clutching a small plastic bag containing white powder. She sighed heavily. He was out cold, overwhelmed by the substances he had ingested. Wiping the blood from his nose, she turned him onto his side, ensuring he was still breathing before collapsing in tears on what he referred to as her bed. "At least he won't be violent tonight..." she murmured through her tears.

She picked up a photo of her family: her mother, her father, her older sister, and her brother. The picture was taken three years ago, just before Sabrina fled due to their father's gambling and drinking problems. Before their parents died in a car accident caused by his excessive drinking. Before, when her brother still had a smile on his face... It wasn't the most functional family, but it was hers. Now, Sabrina had cut off all forms of communication, her brother was barely hanging on thread, and she felt utterly alone in the world. Pressing the photo against her chest, she cried herself to sleep.