They put up the flat I rented for sale, so I had to move out. I cleaned every corner and left. The next day, the landlady called. I got scared that they’d found something broken. But she started to thank me for cleaning the place. And then she suddenly said, “How come you’re not taking anything with you?”
For a moment, I didn’t understand. Then I realized she must have walked through the empty rooms — the clean counters, the swept floors, and the complete lack of boxes or belongings. I explained quietly that I hadn’t forgotten anything. I simply didn’t have anything to take. After a difficult year, most of my furniture had been sold, and the rest had worn out. What I carried out was just a suitcase with clothes and a few sentimental items.
There was a long pause on the phone, the kind that feels like a doorway to something unexpected. I braced myself for awkward pity or polite silence, but instead, she asked gently, “Where are you staying now?” I told her I’d found a temporary room while I got back on my feet. To my surprise, she asked me to stop by the next day — she said she had something for me, and her voice sounded sincere, not judging, just human.
When I arrived, she stood there holding a small set of house essentials — dishes, blankets, a basic lamp, and a note that read, “Everyone deserves a fresh start.” I was overwhelmed. It wasn’t about the objects; it was the kindness behind them. That day reminded me that even when life feels stripped bare, compassion can show up in unexpected places. Sometimes the smallest gestures carry the greatest comfort — and prove that even endings can open doors to new beginnings.
