Chester Bennington - Unusual Neighbor

It's hard to accept sincere compliments

The workday was not that hard to pass as I expected. I was so lost in my own world that I completed my work, heard Janice complaining about her back pain and even talked with customers all day.

I took a longer way back home. It was still cold outside, even though Spring was almost knocking on our doors. In all the nature around me, especially in spaces where human intervention is less prominent, the signs that we are almost at the end of winter are now very evident. You could see the green grass growing stronger on the floor, several kinds of flowers started to appear all over the parks in the city, and the trees had small green points in its' twigs threatening to explode into beautiful baby leaves. 

I've always been fascinated by nature whenever I appreciate the flowers and greenery of the gardens and mountains that resurface after "freezing"; it is as if time itself has stopped and now reappeared along with the life that was asleep or even "dead".

After my walk, I turned around at the end of the park and walked back home, rolling my scarf around my neck more tightly after feeling a shiver down my spine.

When I was unlocking the front door from the building I live in, I heard a familiar husky voice calling my name. Without looking back I greeted him.

"Good evening, neighbor."

"Hi, Ana, how was your day?"

"The usual - very floral." He let out a small chuckle as I opened and held the door for him.

We walked upstairs, talking about his classes and how talented most of his students are. If you heard him talking, you could feel the passion he has about teaching and about the music itself. He told me he knows how to play several instruments, but he only has a guitar at home - I miss my acoustic guitar. I left it home when I moved out and now I'm cursing myself for it.

When each of us reached for our keys and the doorknob, I stopped myself from going in and turned around as Chester said goodbye.

"Do you want to come in? I can make you some coffee -- or tea if you prefer."

He looked surprised by my invitation, and I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. I was about to tell him it was ok if he didn't want to go in when he shrugged and said he wouldn't mind having a tea.

I entered my apartment, taking off my shoes immediately as I do every day, taking off my coat and scarf before hanging them. Then I turned to the kitchen to put water in the electric boiler.

Chester was scanning my apartment with an appeased look on his face, as he made his way to the kitchen island.

"So, you were telling me about the instruments you play," I said, hoping that we had a good conversation theme to continue.

"Yes. I actually was in a band when I was a teenager."

I widened my eyes in surprise as I handed him some cookies and a cup of mint tea.

"Really?" He smiled at my surprise.

"Yes - strange phase of my life. But I actually miss it..." 

"Tell me more about it! Did it had a name?" I asked, sitting on the other side of the island, right in front of him, blowing the tea's steam.

"Xero. We were a Progressive, Alternative Rock band. We were kinda good back then."

"So, why did you break up?"

He looked me in the eyes as if he was searching for some way to escape that question. He swallowed hard as his smile and eased face vanished gradually. 

"It's ok, you don't need to tell me about it if you are not comfortable with that."

"Thank you," he smiled weakly. "There are some things that I am not comfortable saying out loud."