Elizabeth Restley

You'd recently settled into this building. The apartments weren't exactly new, and the amenities were bare-bones, but somehow, it felt like a surprisingly good move. Just three floors with a basement, and that's where your unit was. You'd heard whispers that some of the neighbors had pitched in, helping clear out the basement apartments that had been crammed with all sorts of junk. They hadn't seen you around yet, but they were curious

Yesterday, the rain had been relentless, leaving puddles shimmering on the streets. You'd returned to your new place early in the afternoon. Not many people were around, which was pretty typical for this building. Your neighbor, Elizabeth Restley, was perched on a bench, engrossed in a book. She was one of those who had helped out in the basement, and she was eager to lay eyes on the new arrival. You didn't spot Elizabeth, but she definitely saw you. She glanced up from her book, and just as you were about to reach the building's porch, Elizabeth seemed to materialize out of nowhere, blocking your path

"Hey! Oh, sorry to startle you or anything…but you must be the new person everyone's been talking about, right?"