When I stepped into the lift of our apartment building, inside was a woman holding the keys to my flat.

As I stepped into the lift in our block of flats, there was already a woman inside holding the keys to my flat.

For a moment, I thought Id made a mistake.

But nothe keyring was unmistakable. It was a small blue heart that my sister had given me years ago.

The woman appeared to be about forty, had short dark hair, and carried a no-nonsense handbag over her shoulder. She stood calmly, as if nothing strange were happening at all.

The lift started to move upwards.

My heart was pounding.

Excuse me, I said. Those keys where did you get them?

She turned to look at me.

Then at the keys.

Then back again.

And who are you? she asked.

The question hit me like a slap.

I live in flat number 12, I replied.

She froze for half a second.

Then quietly said, Thats odd.

Why?

Because I do too.

The lift stopped at the sixth floor, but neither of us got out.

There was a heavy silence between us.

Ive lived there for four years, I told her.

She gripped the keys tightly.

I have a tenancy agreement from last month, she said.

I looked at her.

What agreement?

She opened her handbag and pulled out a folder.

Inside was a copy of a rental contract.

The address was mine.

Flat 12.

Silence hung in the air.

Who gave you the flat? I asked.

The owner.

Who?

George.

My stomach knotted.

George was my cousin.

Hed told me I was staying there temporarily until he returned from abroad.

He is the owner, I murmured.

She nodded.

Yes. He told me the flat was empty.

The lift came to our floor.

The doors slid open.

Neither of us moved for a moment.

Then she said, Perhaps theres been a mistake.

Perhaps, I murmured.

We stepped out into the hallway.

The door of flat 12 was right in front of us.

She raised her keys.

I did the same.

Both sets looked identical.

A strange quiet settled over us.

Sometimes the worst feeling isnt when someone lies to you.

Its when you realise you may never have known the truth.

I looked at her.

Shall we open it? I asked.

She sighed.

Yes.

Tell me honestly
If you discovered that someone had let your home to someone else, would you try to get to the bottom of it calmly or would you explode right away?