third time's a charm

28

As Thana and her boyfriend Jaylerr stepped into the abandoned apartment, a thick layer of dust greeted them, enveloping the air with a musty scent that hinted at years of neglect. Sunlight filtered through tattered curtains, casting faint rays across the room, illuminating the remnants of a life once lived.

The living room held the fragments of comfort, now lost to time. An old sofa, its cushions worn and sagging, stood as a relic of past relaxation. Dusty sheets draped over furniture, obscuring their shapes beneath layers of grime. Forgotten trinkets adorned shelves, frozen in time like whispers of an elapsed past.

In the kitchen, dishes lay abandoned in the sink, encrusted with leftovers of meals long gone. Countertops bore the scars of neglect, coated with a layer of grime that obscured their once pristine surface. The bedroom told a similar tale, with a bed adorned with discolored sheets, waiting in vain for its occupants to return.

As Thana and Jaylerr explored further, they couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness for the life that once thrived within these walls. Photographs captured moments of joy and laughter, now faded with time.

Turning to the caretaker of the apartment, Thana and Jaylerr exchanged a glance, their curiosity piqued. "How long did my uncle live here?" Thana inquired, her voice breaking the silence that hung heavy in the air.

The caretaker stood before Thana and Jaylerr, a weathered figure with lines etched deep into his face, of years spent amidst the solitude of the place. His eyes, though tired, held a glimmer of wisdom, as if he had witnessed the ebb and flow of countless lives within the walls he tended to.

"Your uncle... ah, yes," he murmured, his voice carrying a gentle rasp like the whisper of wind through old leaves. "He was a tenant here for many years, a kind soul he was."

Jaylerr leaned in, intrigued. "Do you know anything about him? Anything at all would help."

A wistful smile tugged at the corners of the caretaker's lips as he recalled the late Uncle Richie. "Oh, he was a man of few words, but very kind. Always had a knack for fixing things, he did. Had a heart as big as the sky. But life...life can be a cruel mistress, can't it?"

Thana nodded, her eyes reflecting the sadness in the caretaker's words. "Yes, it can," she agreed softly and looked around the place. "All of the stuff here belongs to him?"

The caretaker nodded, a somber expression crossing his wrinkled features. "Aye, every last bit of it," he confirmed, a hit of nostalgia in his tone. The apartment owner didn't want it thrown away. She said your uncle paid for a five-year lease, asked her to hold on to his stuff even after he passed away."

Jaylerr looked at Thana. "It seems like your uncle knew you will come looking for his stuff."

"Maybe..." she sighed deeply, her eyes lingered on the scattered belongings, each item was a silent proof of her uncle's presence in the place. "It's like he just vanished, leaving everything behind," she murmured.

Jaylerr moved closer to Thana, his hand finding hers as he offered a comforting squeeze. "It's eerie, isn't it?" he remarked softly, his eyes reflecting the sadness in hers.

"Sure," she admitted softly, a flicker of hesitation in her tone. "Do you mind if we take a quick look around first? We'll arrange for someone to collect his belongings, but I'd like to ensure we don't discard anything important," she addressed the caretaker.

"You're in charge, miss," the old man replied, shuffling towards the exit, leaving the two of them alone.

Jaylerr took a deep breath, absorbing the atmosphere of the place. "Where should we begin?" he asked, his voice a gentle murmur amidst the quiet.