Hello, Svetlana! Sorry to trouble you, I’m your downstairs neighbor.

Good evening, Im sorry to bother you. Im your downstairs neighbour
Oh, sorry, Ill turn the music down, replied a woman in a light dressing gown, holding a glass of red wine.
No, please, thats not necessary. My husbands work just rang and he has to go in urgently.
Is he unwell?
They didnt say. Just that its urgent. If I went to my mums, itd take forever. Would you mind keeping an eye on my son? Hes seven and a half. He can technically stay on his own, but Ill worry myself into a tizzy. My nerves are fraying as it is
Of course. Ill just change and be down in a minute.
Hes no trouble, really. Hell either occupy himself with his tablet or ask you endless questions.

***

A young woman in a white vest and jeans sat at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of tea and talking on the phone,
That stupid cow from accounts, Joan Smith, she muttered. You can see right through the way she flirts with Mr. Peterson.
A young boy wandered in clutching a tablet. From the device, the heated voices of Jamie and Adam from MythBusters drifted into the room. The boys vest had, The Future Belongs to Robots! scrawled across it.
Oh, sorry, Ill call you back. Im being charitable over here, the woman finished, hanging up. Hello. Im Aunt Edith. Would you like some tea?
No, thank you. Im Oliver. Mum told me. Youre very pretty though Mum says all pretty women are miserable. Dad tells her, if thats true, either shes hideous, or their marriage is awful.
Your parents sound a right laugh. Thanks for the compliment, about being pretty. But miserable?
Wheres your husband?
Oh, well he popped out to the shop. About three years ago.
Ah, I see! He left you!
Right then. Do you have anything stronger than tea in this place? These conversations unsettle me
Theres some wine in the fridge, probably.
Thank you, but Ill stick with tea. I am a guest.
Aunt Edith, you need a new husband.
Oliver, perhaps Ill wait for you to grow up. Where would I even find one, anyway?
Who are you looking for? I saw a programme; you have to picture exactly what you want.
Send me the link. To be honest? Someone rich, handsome, and kind. Someone whod love me and give me everything
But what would you offer him?
Excuse me? Id love him. And go to the spa.
What use is that to him? If hes clever, he wants a partner, not an extra cockroach in the house
Remind me where you keep that wine? Edith rummaged in the fridge, found the bottle, poured her tea down the sink and filled her mug with red.
I watched a show about billionaires wives, too. Apparently theyre all alcoholics, living in mansions and pickled half to death.
That, dear Oliver, is called loneliness. Will you join me? Only joking!
Do you know who I’m going to marry?
I told you, youll marry me!
Seriously.
Who?
Frances. We go to Robotics Club together. Shes clever. Cleverer than me. At the competition, our two Bluetooth modules couldnt connect. We were in a team. I panicked our robot was dead. But she kept calm, made me take the modules outside into the woods. No signals there at all bang, the modules found each other straight away. We came back and won. Shes my team! I trust her. Shes worth loving!
Edith drained her mug, poured herself more.
Well, Frances has snatched my future husband right under my nose. So youre suggesting I should be searching for a husband at work?
Strong people get found! Why search? Husbands arent tomatoes you root around for at the supermarket.
Alright, psychologist, I dont get it.
Become rich, beautiful, and kind yourself! Got it?
Then why would I need anyone? Id travel, finally learn Italian, take up dancing, sign up for cooking classes. Id learn to make tacos!
Whats stopping you now?
I dont have a husband to pay for everything.
So you really are the cockroach. A freeloader.
Thats not very nice! I just want ordinary womans happiness.
You should watch less telly! Youll spend forever hunting that imaginary idiot instead of actually living!
Oh, shut up! What do you know?! Off to your room, clever clogs! Time for bed!
The boy marched out. Ediths eyes brimmed with tears as she finished her wine. Her phone rang; she cut the call.
The front door burst open. A couple tumbled in, a bit tipsy, happiness beaming in their faces.
Edith, thank you so much for looking after him, the neighbour sang.
Not at all. I may have had a bit of your wine.
Dont worry!
Is your husband all right?
Oh, it was a prank! His colleagues planned it. Idiots. Todays the anniversary of our first kiss. I turned up at his office, and he was lying on the floor with a sign saying, Im Sleeping Beauty Kiss Me! Then we got wine and went to the cinema. Like the old days.
Are you all in cahoots to drive me mad? Id best be off.
Was Oliver well-behaved? his mother called from the hallway.
Dreadful. Absolutely dreadful. Could I babysit him more often? He needs some raisingOliver leaned over the banister, grinning down at Edith.
Next time bring Frances, he said. Well teach you to solder.
Edith propped her bag on her shoulder, hair falling forward as she laughed, sudden and real.
Deal, she replied.
As she stepped through the door, cool night air brushed her cheeks, carrying a scent of rain and distant blossoms. She looked up through the yellow-lit stairwell, a smile lingering on her lips.
Her phone buzzed. For once, she answered.
Sorry I snapped earlier, Edith said quietly into the night. But guess what? I might take up robotics. Or Italian. And maybe, just maybe, stop looking for a prince and build something beautiful myself
On the landing, she paused; downstairs, muffled laughter rang out, a boys voice declaring,
No way, Dad! Next year, Ill win with Frances again!
Edith grinned, feeling lighter as she pushed open the outside door the city lights gleamed, endless, alive, and for the first time in a long while, she couldnt wait to see where they might lead her.