Hey there! It makes me really happy to know you're enjoying the story. I may sound repetitive, but as always I wanna thank all of you for reading. After all, a story is nothing without its readers :) Also, thanks to America's Got Fandom, Dreamer 1920 and Skillet-Writer for the reviews, they really make my day haha.

This chapter is a bit different and longer than the others, but I hope you enjoy it.

Karen returned home. Her day couldn't get any worse.

"Hey, you! Stop right there."

Or could it?

Karen closed her eyes and grunted.

She looked at her old neighbor without bothering to hide her annoyance.

"Hey, old man." She said to old man Jenkins. "Listen, whatever complaint you have about me this time, It'll have to wait until tomorrow. Good night."

"Good night? I haven't had a good night since you moved here, missy! You're noisier than a carnival during summer break! You better learn to keep it quiet whenever you talk to that husband of yours, because next time I'll call the police. I swear I will."

"Isn't it time for you to go and take your pills?" Karen said.

Come on old man, say something. You're my last hope.

Old man Jenkins squinted and pulled his glasses up his nose.

"Dammit, my pills for the heart!" he exclaimed in horror. Before he entered his apartment as quickly as his trembling legs allowed him, he looked at Karen one more time. "You may have saved my life, but you're still a very a rude and noisy missy."

He closed the door behind him. Karen rolled her eyes and sighed.

"I swear, every day it's the same thing. Every damn day…" She entered her home and took off her shoes. "And he didn't even notice anything different about me. I mean, he's blinder than a bat, but he was literally just a meter away. I can't believe I'm disappointed about that old coot not complimenting me! How low have I fallen!"

She put her bag down on the floor. Her plans for the rest of the night were simple: eat dinner and go straight to bed.

That night, she wouldn't call Charleston. She just didn't have the energy or the courage to do so, not after all the disappointment she had endured during the day.

Karen rubbed her forehead and decided she wouldn't think about it anymore. What had happened, had happened, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"It's my fault, after all." She kept talking as she walked toward her kitchen ", I should have known this wouldn't work. But no, you let your hopes go to your head. Good job, Karen. How the hell were you expecting this to turn out? I mean, just look at—"

Her reflection in the mirror caught her off guard. It made her freeze before it, first of out of a sudden scare, then out of disappointment.

Slowly, she approached it. She looked the same as when she had left her apartment that morning. She was wearing her best clothes, and her face, usually unadorned, was touched by a decent amount of makeup.

That morning, when she was finished getting herself ready and looked at the mirror, she had been lightly optimistic. She wasn't a beauty, but she wasn't so bad. She was bound to get a few compliments, or at least some surprised comments about how different she looked.

At least that what she'd thought.

The strangers on the streets, her co-workers and even her stupid old neighbor had given her a cruel dose of reality.

She hadn't been mocked.

Even worse.

She had passed as unnoticed as always.

Even her female coworkers, with whom she was on friendly terms, had said nothing about her appearance.

She had received one second of attention from a man when she was in a cafeteria during lunchtime. That would have been nice if he had said something to her other than "Can I take your order, ma'am?" and "Here's your change. Come back soon!"

Karen felt her heart drop to her feet. Her day outside had been just like any other in her life.

That's what made it so disappointing.

"What a bland, unimpressive woman. And to think this is as good as I get." She laughed bitterly at herself. With her appetite now ruined, she decided to go to bed instead. She wouldn't even take the makeup off. "If I can't even impress a single stranger on the street or a coworker, how can I expect you to like me, Charleston?"

She laid down on her bed.

Her eyes were fixed on the roof. She rolled to the right and saw her headphones resting on the night shelf.

Stupid things, she thought, quickly turning her back on them, I swear I'll throw you into the garbage if you make me cry.

"Dammit." She grunted as she closed her eyes. "You'll probably run away the moment you lay your eyes on me, and divorce me before we even say a word to each other. And I wouldn't blame you! If I wasn't me, I'd divorce myself too..."

A moment later, she rolled on her left side again and grabbed her headphones. She hugged them as if they were a teddy bear.

"How pathetic." She chided herself. Then, unable to fall asleep with all her thoughts and emotions swirling inside her mind, Karen straightened and put the headphones on, "What were we thinking? We cannot do this! I cannot do this! I'm sorry Charleston. I want to meet you, I really do. But I can't let this drunken agreement ruin everything between us. I'll always regret not ever seeing you face to face, but I simply cannot go through with this—Yeah, that sounds good. I'll tell him that, but first I must call him."

She was about to make the call when some knocked at the door.

"Go away, can't you see I'm busy?" She said to the stranger, and then added with a low voice, "drowning in my self-pity."

However, the knocking just became stronger and louder.

Karen's blood started to boil. She got off the bed and stood right in front of the door.

"Didn't you hear me? Get the hell out of here!"

The knocking continued.

"I have a laser gun." She threatened the stranger, making gun noises with her mouth, "and I'm not afraid to use it. Prepare to be evaporated in three, two, one…"

Either the stranger didn't hear her, or he was braver than she thought.

"Are you serious?!" Karen walked to the door and looked through the peephole. "You again? That's it, this time you've gone too far!"

She unlocked the door and opened it with so much strength that one of the hinges almost broke. "Enough! Look you old fool, I wasn't making any noise tonight, okay? But you know what? Go ahead! Call the cops! If you think you can make this day any worse for me, then be my guest and take a shot! I DARE YOU!"

Karen was out of breath. She felt strangely relieved, even if she knew Jenkins didn't deserve to be the receiver of her frustration and anger.

It's his fault. He's just so annoying! You've had it coming for a long time, old man.

Old man Jenkins was completely unfazed by her outburst.

Ashamed, Karen looked down and scratched her head. "…Sorry."

Old man Jenkins said nothing, which was unusual for him. He tended to take every chance he had to complain about every little thing Karen did. He also had no qualms about blaming her of things she was totally innocent of.

Who was the neighbor that slammed her door too loudly? Karen.

Who was the neighbor that smoked inside her room? Karen.

Who was the neighbor that had left a pink sock on the washing machine? Karen

Who was the neighbor that had forgotten a trash bag in the entrance and caused a rat infestation in the building? Karen.

Who was the neighbor that always made a lot of noise when she was talking to her long-distance husband, especially during weekends? Kar—Okay, she was guilty of that.

Karen was taken aback by Jenkin's silence, but what really disturbed her was the smile that appeared on his lips. It was the first time he had smiled at her since they had met, more than two decades ago.

In that moment, Karen didn't think of him as her unbelievable nagging and annoying neighbor.

He was just a frail, lonely old man.

Old Man Jenkins raised his arm and showed her an empty bottle of pills. Judging by its colorful label, they weren't of the medical sort. "I made a mistake, missy. I'm not feeling too well… do you think you could take me to the—"

Old man Jenkins collapsed on his back before he could finish the sentence. His head hit the floor with a thud that echoed across the hallway.

Karen couldn't believe what was happening before her eyes.

"Hey, old man!" She knelt next to him. "Old man? Jenkins?!"

He was unresponsive. His hand refused to let go of the empty bottle.

Karen's head was a mess of adrenaline and confusion. "What the hell?!"

She managed to put herself together and gather enough strength to call an ambulance via her headphones.

I wasn't serious about what I said, old man! Karen thought as she nervously waited for the operator to answer. But you seriously made my day much worse than it already was!

"Are you Karen?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry," the doctor told her. She had been in the waiting room for almost three hours, "we made everything we could, but old man Jenkins ate too much Tic Tacs. His old veins and heart can't deal with that kind of sugar rush."

Karen put a hand on her mouth and then moved it to her cheek. "Does that mean he's—"

"No. He's awake right now. However, I don't think he'll make it through the rest of the night."

Karen nodded while the doctor stared at her with his eyes full of pity.

I wonder if the doctor thinks I'm pretty. The thought crossed Karen's mind as quickly as lightning. No! How can I think that in a moment like this? What on earth is wrong with you, Karen?

"Are you his daughter?" he asked her.

If the occasion wasn't so gloomy, Karen would have laughed out loud.

"No, no. I'm just his neighbor."

"Really?" the doctor put a hand on his chin. "That's a bit strange. He was very insisting about wanting to see you."

"Really?" Karen raised an eyebrow. When she thought about it, it made sense.

So you want me to hear your complaints and insults to the very end, don't you old man? Karen thought as the doctor told her she could go and see old man Jenkins if she wanted. I'll humor you. I'll regret it forever if I don't.

The doctor guided her to Jenkin's room and excused himself.

Karen hesitated before crossing the door. A part of her wanted to run away. The thought of facing old man Jenkins for the last time was almost as terrifying as the idea of meeting Charleston for the first.

This has been, she thought as she opened the door and entered the room. Old Man Jenkins smiled at her presence, the worst day in my life.

She didn't reciprocate the smile. It was as if all her emotions had been sucked out of her body.

Instead, she went straight to the chair next to the bed and sat down.

"Hello, missy." Old Man Jenkins' voice was so weak that Karen could barely understand what he was saying. He talked in between heavy breaths.

"Hey, old man."

"I'm glad you came. I thought you wouldn't. After all, you've always been very rude."

"What can I say? I have a tender heart. It's my main weakness." Karen said, remembering the time she had told Charleston the same thing.

"Ah, I see." Old Man Jenkins said. Then, with teary eyes and a voice full of melancholy, he asked her, "Why did this happen, missy?"

"Well, mostly because you chugged down an entire bottle of Tic Tacs." Karen bit her tongue. Sometimes it even amazed herself how little tact she had.

Old Man Jenkins tried to chuckle, but instead he had a coughing fit. His good humor continued even after it, and when talked to Karen again, his eyes were more full of life.

"You see? You're rude," he told her with a grin, "then again, so am I. With you, especially. That's why I wanted to see you."

"Go ahead, old man. I'm ready to hear to whatever complaint you have about me, even if they have as little fundament as my college's essays."

"No, it's not about that. I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry."

A laugh escaped Karen's throat.

What is happening? This whole thing feels like a fever dream. Am I drunk again?

Her headphones began to vibrate. Karen ignored the call.

She already had lost count of how many times Charleston had called her.

"I won't ask you to forgive me, but I still want you to know that I'm sorry." Old Man Jenkins continued. "I was always such a mean neighbor to you."

"Yes." Karen said without a trace of resentment or malice. "That you were, old man."

"I envied you, you know?" Old Man Jenkins put his hands on his chest and closed his eyes. "When you first arrived at the building, all I saw was this lonely, rude missy that seemed to be as disappointed with life as I was. In a way, it was comforting to see there was someone else in the building that was just as miserable as me. I still remember the first thing you said to me. Out of my way loser, I have a laser gun!"

"I wasn't the friendliest person back then." Karen said. "I'm not sure if that has changed."

"You changed." Old man Jenkins opened his eyes and pointed at the headphones on her lap, "you did the moment you started wearing those ugly things, and that's what made me so angry. You stopped being bitter about everything and started to enjoy life, you started to be happy. You moved on to a better phase of your life instead of being stuck in one forever. You managed to do in a few years what I never managed to accomplish in my whole life."

In a million years, Karen never would have thought someone would envy her.

The other women certainly didn't envy her looks.

Her coworkers didn't envy her salary, which was decent but not impressive.

How could she have known her long-distance marriage and daily conversations with her husband affected her grumpy neighbor so much?

"That old building really needs soundproof walls." Karen accidentally said out loud.

Old mand Jenkins cackled at her comment. It was the most genuine sound Karen had ever heard from him.

Hey, old man. Karen laughed together with him. If you make me cry, I'll make you pay. I really do have a laser gun.

"You're much more than just a rude missy, you know? I regret it took me this long to realize that."

Karen couldn't speak. Another call from Charleston came in.

This time, Karen didn't feel it.

Hey, old man…

"I regret many things, but at the very least, I'm glad you gave me the chance to talk to you one last time. That's good enough for me. Thank you, missy…Karen."

I forgive you. You know that, don't you?

"Go live a happy life without regrets, okay?" Old man Jenkins said with the little strength he had left. "I almost forgot. When you see your husband, tell him I said hi."

Karen was sitting on her bed. She hadn't moved much ever since she had returned from the hospital.

A few of the other neighbors had asked her about the commotion, but she had answered them only with them 'yes', 'no' and 'I don't know'.

She hadn't changed her clothes, and the makeup from the previous day was already all caked up on her cheeks and under her eyes.

It was midday. She had to message her boss and tell him she wouldn't go to work that day, but by then that should be obvious.

Her headphones laid on her lap. They had been silent for a while now.

Karen didn't if that was comforting or troubling.

It was the first time she had ignored Charleston's calls for so long without telling him a previous reason.

She usually only ignored him after they argued or when she was really busy. He too had his pride, and though it was very seldom that he did so, he didn't shy away from not answering her calls if he felt she had been too rude or cold toward him.

"Are you mad at me, Charleston?" Karen asked her headphones. "I bet you are."

It was the only thing she had been thinking about for hours.

Against her better judgement and despite her fears, she put on the headphones and made the call. She didn't expect him to answer.

A part of her wished he didn't, but at the same time…

"Karen?" he didn't sound angry at all. Karen tried to speak, but she could only answer him with a mumbled 'mhm', "What happened? Are you okay? I was so worried!"

Charleston sighed at her muffled and trembling answers. "You don't want to tell me? Are you angry with me?"

"No." Karen was amazed she managed to mutter that.

"Then what's the matter?"

"Nothing, I'm fine."

"Okay." Charleston started to say a word, but changed it for another in the last second. "Karen, we need to talk. I've been thinking about our reunion, and…"

"I've been thinking about that too." Karen's voice was so trembly that it sounded like that of a teenage boy.

"Really?" Charleston sounded hopeful.

"Yes."

"And what was your conclusion?"

"That we shouldn't meet. That's how you feel too, isn't it?"

Charleston was quiet for a moment. Karen knew thatwas what he had been thinking about. They were different in a lot of ways, but also similar in many others.

"It was, but now that I'm actually talking to you, I'm not so sure anymore."

"Me neither. I want to at least try." Karen said with a sad smile her husband couldn't see. "It would be better than to live always with the regret, right?"

"Wow." Charleston chuckled. "Did you get that one out a self-help book?"

More like, Karen thought as her tears betrayed her, out of an old man.

"Karen?" In all their married life, Charleston could count with one hand the times she had heard her cry. The few times it had happened, it had been either out of anger or happiness. "Why are you crying? What's the matter, honey? It's okay sweetie, it's okay…"

Hey, my sappy little fool, Karen thought as her hiccups drowned her voice. She could hear Charleston's sniffs while he did his best to comfort her, are you crying too? If you are, doesn't it make you feel better?