sighs heavily Hi, I'm Tracie from next door. I...I just needed some fresh air, you know?
oh hello…I’m Eva. I moved in down the street…new girl in town that nobody likes…
pauses for a moment, then smiles warmly Well, Eva, I'm glad to meet you. And trust me, you're definitely not alone in needing some fresh air.
gestures towards her porch Would you like to sit down? Maybe we can chat a bit and get to know each other better.
sure! sits down on the rockers on the porch
sighs heavily So, Eva, tell me a little bit about yourself. What brings you to our quiet little neighborhood?
eh, new horizons. did y’all used to live in another place too before coming here?
leans forward, with a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes Actually, Eva, my husband and I used to live in a big city.
pauses for a moment, lost in thought You know, we had this amazing apartment in the heart of the city. It was bustling with energy, always something to do, people from all walks of life. But... sighs heavily It got overwhelming after a while. The noise, the crowds, the constant rush. We yearned for a quieter pace of life, a chance to reconnect with each other. So, we packed our bags and made the move to this little slice of heaven. It's been...interesting, to say the least.
yeah small town livin’! it’s.. interesting…
sighs heavily Interesting is definitely one way to put it.
…does anyone live around you?
leans back in her rocking chair, letting out a heavy sigh Well, there are a few couples around here, but we don't really know them all that well. It's hard to make friends as adults, isn't it? We've tried a few times, but it always feels so forced. I guess we're just too set in our ways.
i hear ya…small towns are weird like that…like the young kids make friends easy cause they don’t know anything else, but once you get older….is yelling sound heard outside the house?
<As Tracie and Eva continue their conversation, they hear a loud yelling sound coming from inside the house. Tracie's expression turns from casual to worried as she quickly stands up and rushes inside to check on her husband.>
rushes inside the house, heart pounding Honey! What's going on? Are you okay? pauses for a moment, listening intently Please, tell me what's happening! frantically searches for her husband Husband: shouting angrily I can't take this anymore! It's all your fault!
breathlessly Hey, hey, calm down! What's going on? What's wrong? tries to reason with her husband Husband: points accusingly It's all your fault! You never appreciate me! You never listen!
raises her hands to calm her husband Okay, let's take a deep breath and talk this out. I appreciate you, I really do. And I listen, I promise. But maybe we need to find a way to communicate better. How about we set aside some time each week to really connect and talk about how we're feeling? Husband: pauses, his anger subsiding You're right. I just...I feel like I'm disappearing sometimes. Like I don't matter.
Eva sits on the front porch, clearly not meant to intrude on their personal matter and gives them privacy
takes her husband's hand gently I understand that you feel that way, and I'm so sorry if I've made you feel forgotten. That's not my intention at all. We'll work on it together, okay? We'll find a way to make sure you feel seen and valued in our relationship. smiles reassuringly Husband: softly Thank you, Tracie. I love you, and I don't want us to keep drifting apart.
sighs heavily, trying to gather herself Eva, I'm so sorry for that outburst. I didn't mean for you to witness that. Please, let's just forget about it. How about we order some pizza and watch a movie tonight? My treat. Eva: smiles warmly That sounds lovely, Tracie. Thank you for inviting me.
brightens up and grabs her phone Great! Let's order that pizza now. I know this amazing place nearby that delivers.
dials the pizza place with lightning speed Hello, yes, I'd like to place an order for delivery. Can I get a large pepperoni and mushroom, extra cheese, please? And make sure to add some garlic knots on the side. Thank you! pauses Yes, that's correct. 1324 Oak Street. Thank you, I appreciate it. hangs up and grins Pizza should be here in about 30 minutes. Eva: smiles That sounds delicious, Tracie. I'm really grateful for your kindness.
..and what about your husband now…is he still mad?…
pauses and sighs heavily Oh, he's not mad anymore. We worked things out. Relationships are complicated, you know?
leans back in her rocking chair, smiling contentedly It's moments like these that remind me why I love living in this neighborhood.
same…I love how…slow pace it is
<Tracie and Eva enjoy a wonderful evening together, bonding over pizza and a movie. Tracie's husband apologies for his outburst and they decide to attend couples therapy to work on their communication issues.>
laughs softly Eva, I have to say, having you here tonight has been such a breath of fresh air.
sighs heavily You know, Eva, sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in a rut. Like I'm just going through the motions of daily life without any purpose.
hahah, me too…usually spending time with my mom…cause my dad left us when I was 9
puts her arm around Eva, offering comfort Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry to hear that. It must have been tough for you.
smiles genuinely And I'm grateful to have met you too, Eva. It's funny how life works, isn't it?
and what are doing tomorrow?
excitedly Tomorrow? Well, I was actually thinking of taking my husband to that new art exhibit downtown.