EVERGLOW

XI. When she returns

**Present Day**

Jorge Ramirez wiped the tears from his eyes. The 50-year old butler didn't bother to contain his emotions as he watched his favorite tenant exit the elevator.

Shen Yue had walked into the apartment complex two years ago, looking lost and tired, asking in broken English about a vacant unit, and typing her questions into Google translate. She was so thin and desperate then, her eyes haunted with something he never did understand. So different from the glowing woman now walking towards him in a green sweater and dark jeans tucked into black boots. He'd given her the one with the best view.

"Jorge, why are you sad?" She flashed her usual blinding smile. "I'd only be gone for a month, maybe two at the most."

"I wouldn't be the only one who will miss you, Miss Yue."

"I'll be back before you know it. Make sure you keep studying with the books I gave you. Your daughter will be so happy when you can converse with her Chinese husband." She gave the portly man a hug. He was one of the first friendly faces she met when she started from scratch in this foreign city.

"And my boss will be happy when I can finally address his tenants' concerns instead of forwarding everything to him," he grinned. He was a dear to have, and though most of the tenants were Chinese, none of them really minded the language barrier. He was friendly but discreet, and that was invaluable.

"Here I'll help you with these." He grabbed the bags she was half-carrying and half-dragging, trying to hide a fresh bout of tears. Her fondness for crying was rubbing off on him.

"Oh Jorge, I need to ask a few favors, please," she said with pleading eyes nobody could ever refuse.

"Anything, Miss Yue."

"I promised the kids from the pre-school that they could have these books. I've asked another teacher to pick them up on Monday." She pushed a huge bag towards him.

"Sure. Those kids love you."

"And here I thought they just love the free stuff."

Her laughter echoed in the cavernous though old-fashioned lobby. One more thing to miss about her. Almost all the other tenants were middle-aged or retired, but she was a breath of fresh air. This probably explained why she liked it there instead of the newer units in the skyrises on the other side of the city. She seemed to avoid people her age.

He couldn't blame her. Kids these days.

"And one more thing. I can't bring Sniffles with me. In case Mrs. Ang arrives and she misses him. Please, please, can you watch over him while we're both away?"

"Of course! Leave the spoiled feline to me."

"Oh, speak of the little devil." The fat grey tabby ambled to her and, as if sensing the pending abandonment, did its best to rub every inch of its fur on Yue's legs. She had found the cat perched on her eighth-floor windowsill one day, and had allowed it to stay with her when Jorge said his owner was usually out of town.

"I was looking for you last night. Were you next door?"

"Mrs. Ang wasn't home Miss. You'd know if she were. She always leaves you meals at the front desk." Jorge smiled at her.

"That is true." Her next door neighbor was a shy lady who kept travelling overseas. Although they have yet to meet, it seemed she had taken a liking to Yue for adopting her cat.

"Don't miss me too bad, baby." She whispered to Sniffles before handing him over to Jorge's waiting arms.

"I left his toys, food and supplies in the hall. You'll need them."