Chester Bennington - Unusual Neighbor

Opening up a little more

There are those days when all you want is to have a lot to do at work so you can distract yourself from your problems. Today was one of those days. But, unfortunately, life decided otherwise, and I was bored to death.

I confided with Janice about my situation with my family, and she said that I should find my parents and talk to them. She thinks I should go back home to meet them and express how I'm really feeling. Maybe she's right. It's been too long and we should solve this once and for all.

She even told me to take the day off, but I refused, going back home at the usual hour.

When I climb the last inside my apartment building, I saw a figure sitting on the floor in front of my door. I smiled at the view. He was fidgeting with his fingers with a bag of muffins by his side. It's been too long since we last ate muffins together.

"Hi," Chester said as soon as he noticed my presence.

"Hey, there," I said casually, walking to my door.

He immediately stood up and showed me the bag.

"Do you want to have coffee or tea? In my apartment?"

His question surprised me. Even after cleaning his apartment and having dinner with him, we always meet up at my house. I think it's the of habit, really, but still, I was surprised by his invitation. Chester sensed that I was taken aback and smiled.

"I just want to thank you for everything you did for me. You've always been here for me and most of the times I act like an asshole. I'd like to change that, starting now."

Chester opened the door for me in silence and I walked in, immediately walking to his couch. It's such a pleasure to see that he kept his apartment clean and tidy after our cleaning session. He was actually taking care of his house. There were no more pills spread throughout the living room, the dishes were clean and in its proper places, and it even smelled like fresh pine. 

I leaned back on the couch as he locked his door and put water in the boiler. He asked me if I preferred tea or coffee and soon after he had our snack ready.

"Thank you," I said when he handed me my mug. He sat by my side and looked at me. "Why did you say those things in the corridor?"

"I don't know... I guess I have been an asshole to you, treating you like shit. I know you want to help me and mean no harm. It's just that I've been so close all my life and, then, you happened, and -- well, I feel like there's something changing in me."

My expression melted and I pressed my brows together hearing his humble words. I couldn't help but let a tear stroll down my cheek.

"And when I saw you crying yesterday, I felt useless. I couldn't do anything to comfort you. And you already did so much for me that I felt bad for pushing you away," he exhaled a lot of air trapped in his lungs. I presume that his speech was more than trained in front of a mirror -- not only because he was nervous as fuck, but also because it's the first time I hear him sharing his feelings without me asking for it. It's just a casual conversation, and he's being spontaneous. I liked it.

"I'm sorry, I ran away from you yesterday and --" 

"No, you don't have to apologize, Ana. Whoever made you cry like that should be the one apologizing."

I muffled a laugh in my throat and let my body fall back in the couch. For a while, I  stared at the ceiling, rethinking about my life. Analyzing my situation.

"My mom called me yesterday," I said and I could feel Chester's worry. He tensed up and put his mug down on the wooden table in front of us, turning his body on the couch so he could look at me while I talked.