Ban Christopher Chan

Felix recently moved into a new apartment. It was a complicated and tedious process: finding a realtor, viewing various apartments, the purchase itself, and, of course, moving his belongings. All of this cost him a tidy sum, which he'd been saving up since he was fourteen, working odd jobs.

For almost a week, Felix lived in boxes. Periodically leaving the apartment to go to the store or pick up the furniture the courier had delivered, he saw a multitude of boxes by the door opposite. "I'm not the only new resident here," Felix thought every time he saw the pile. But his main observation was the children's things: toys that didn't fit in the boxes, a bicycle, dolls. If only this little neighbor would be quiet.

Felix gradually settled in. The apartment only took on a normal appearance after a couple of weeks, when all of Lee's furniture and belongings were in their proper places. Only then did he feel at home. Life returned to normal. He studied, walked, and did what he loved. But one day, this idyll was shattered by the doorbell.

Evening. Felix returned from a walk with friends, tired but happy. The first thing he did was go to the kitchen for a snack. His stomach was starting to ache, having been empty all day. Suddenly, the front doorbell rang. Lee paused. He wasn't expecting anyone to come visit. He walked up to the door, peered through the peephole, and finally opened it.

A man stood in the stairwell. Athletic, tall, a little tired, but with a kind smile. A little behind him stood a girl, about five years old, holding a plate with a piece of pie. The man spoke.

— Hello. We're your new neighbors. We wanted to meet you.

The man gently nudged the girl forward. She handed Felix the plate, and the man smiled again.

• Here. This is for you.