Invisible String

A Place In This World

If there was one thing you had started to love about this world, it was the affordability of everything. The realization had started to dawn on you after Dorothy and Alex took you apartment shopping. There were studios in the area for under $400 and a few 1-2 bedrooms for just over that. You never grew up in Pennsylvania in your world, but you knew the average was closer to $1500. You paid close to $1700 for your studio in the middle of the city and that was lowballing for your area. It drove you even more insane when you heard Alex comment about how expensive it was.

His eyes almost bulged out of his head when you told him how much you paid in your world. He was even trying to get you a cheaper price on the place you were looking at right now. You walked around the apartment in awe.

It was a two bedroom that sat above a flower/antique shop. The older lady that owned the place was looking for a tenant since her grandson had moved to the big city. It was very spacious, with a balcony and roof access to boot and an open floor plan with the kitchen and dining room connected to the living room. Down the hall after the living room, to the right was a small bathroom. Directly across from it was the smaller of the two bedrooms. The second bedroom, the master, was at the end of the hallway. You were already picturing where you would set your future belongings and how you wanted the whole place to look.

You could hardly believe you had been in this world for a month. You felt happier here then you ever had in your real world, yet something started to nag you in the back of your mind. Something that tried to convince you, you didn't deserve this. You turned to the group of three that had quieted down, waiting for your input. You wanted to say yes, half because you actually really liked the place, but the other half simply because you had been dragged across the small town all day yesterday and all morning looking at apartment after apartment.

"I think this is the place!" You smiled wide and made your way over to the group. Alex and Dorothy both grinned at you as the older woman, who you had learned was named Marjorie, nodded and excused herself to go get the paperwork you needed to sign.

"We'll help you find some furniture. We can make a girl's day out of it, You, me and Mo." You excitedly nodded your head at Dorothy.

"That sounds really fun actually." Your smile wavered a bit as you realized you probably wouldn't get to see everyone everyday like you had these past few weeks. You had grown used to the shenanigans of the kids, human and robot alike. You could never anticipate if you would wake up to birds singing and flowers blooming or a sequence of small explosions right outside your window. It made you excited for every day. This feeling was shiny and new to you, since you weren't really close with anyone in your world. The thought of being dragged back to your world at any given moment frightened you. It was draining but the nagging voice in the back of your head was getting weaker with every hour that passed.

Before your mind could wonder any further, Marjorie returned with the lease in one hand and a pen in the other. Her bright blue eyes shined when she smiled, and you could tell you two would get along fine. You turned to a space on the counter after being handed the paper. You read it over (Read your documents kids) and signed your name at the bottom of the page. She didn't ask for a security deposit, but you did give her two months' rent. It was the cheepiest two-bedroom apartment you had ever seen in your whole life. $450 plus utilities. You felt like a bandit with that deal.

Dorothy and Alex hugged your shoulders as Marjorie handed you the keys.

"You can start moving in immediately, the place is yours." She said, holding her hand out to shake yours. You smiled and said a small goodbye before she took the papers and, with one last wave, walked out of the apartment. Leaving you and the Maltos alone in the empty space.