When Phoebe decides to start fresh with a new house after her divorce, she finds a cozy home in a quiet neighborhood. While unpacking, she meets her wonderful neighbor, who soon reveals a significant responsibility for Phoebe.aWhen we first moved into the little
house at the end of Maple Street, hope and a sense of new beginnings filled me. It was just my 6-year-old daughter, Lily, and me. After a tough year, dealing with a difficult divorce and Lily adjusting to life without her father at home, this move felt necessary. \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Mom,\u201d Lily said softly one night. \u201c
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I don\u2019t like how Dad always shouted at us.\u201d That confirmed our need to break free. From the moment I met Mrs. Thompson, she reminded me of my grandmother. Her motherly warmth reassured me that moving here was the right decision. \u201cI\u2019m Hazel,\u201d she introduced herself, walking up to our porch with freshly baked cookies. \u201cI\u2019m so glad you\u2019re moving into the neighborhood. My house is right next door.\u201d \u201cThis is Lily, my daughter,\u201d I said as Lily played nearby. \u201cWe needed a new start.\u201d On moving day, Mrs.\n\n\n\n

Thompson insisted on helping me unpack. \u201cNo, thank you,\u201d I protested. \u201cYou\u2019re welcome to stay and keep me company, but I\u2019ll do all the heavy lifting.\u201d\u201cNonsense, dear,\u201d she replied with a twinkle in her eye. \u201cI\u2019ve got plenty of energy left in these old bones.\u201d We spent the afternoon together, chatting and laughing as we organized the kitchen, arranged the living room, and set up Lily\u2019s bedroom. Mrs. Thompson\u2019s presence made the daunting task enjoyable, and I was grateful for her kindness. \u201cMrs. Thompson,\u201d I said, feeling both gratitude and guilt, \u201cyou really don\u2019t have to do all this. You\u2019ve been so helpful, but I feel bad taking up your time.\u201d \u201cOh, no, Phoebe,\u201d she replied with a wave of her hand.\n\n\n\n

\u201cI enjoy the company. It\u2019s been too quiet here lately. I don\u2019t get out much because I get dizzy spells sometimes. This has been good for me, too.\u201d As evening approached, Mrs. Thompson invited me over for dinner. \u201cI\u2019ll just throw something together,\u201d she said. \u201cLily is with your mom, so you\u2019ll be alone in the new house. At least this way, I\u2019ll know you\u2019ve eaten.\u201d Sitting in her kitchen as she prepared dinner, I felt incredibly grateful for her kindness. The divorce had been hard, and my mother had tried to persuade me to reconcile with Lily\u2019s dad. \u201cJust give it another go, Phoebe,\u201d she had said. \u201cYou\u2019ll be glad\n\n\n\n

you tried harder for Lily.\u201daKeeping the divorce to myself, I only visited my parents so they could spend time with Lily. Having Mrs. Thompson around provided a soothing comfort I hadn\u2019t realized I needed. After dinner, she walked me out with a gentle hug. \u201cIf you need anything, dear, don\u2019t hesitate to ask,\u201d she said. That night, exhausted but content, I decided to leave the last few boxes for the next day. \u201cThat\u2019s tomorrow\u2019s problem,\u201d\n\n\n\n

I sighed, getting into bed. The next morning, with a cup of coffee in hand, I noticed an envelope on one of the remaining boxes, addressed to \u201cThe New Owner.\u201d Curiosity piqued, I opened it and read the neatly written note: Dear New Neighbor, Welcome to your new home! I hope you find as much joy and comfort in this neighborhood as I have over the years. There is something important you should know about this house, something I couldn\u2019t tell you in person. The previous owner and I had a special agreement regarding a beloved pet, an exotic and high-maintenance tortoise named Sheldon,\n\n\n\n

who lives in the basement.Sheldon has been part of this household for decades and requires specific care and attention. I took on the responsibility after the previous owner passed away, promising to care for him until the house had a new owner. Unfortunately, I\u2019m too old to continue caring for Sheldon. I hoped you could take on the responsibility. I didn\u2019t want to tell you in front of Lily and risk getting her excited. Please let me know what you\u2019d like us to do. Warm regards, Hazel Thompson As I stood there, processing Mrs. Thompson\u2019s note, I realized I couldn\u2019t take on such a responsibility. Later that day, I spoke with her. \u201cMrs. Thompson, I don\u2019t know what to say. Sheldon sounds wonderful, but I can\u2019t take care of him,\u201d I began. \u201cIt\u2019s just Lily and me, and we moved here to start\n\n\n\n

fresh. I can\u2019t handle another demanding responsibility.\u201d She nodded, understanding. \u201cOf course, I understand,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019s just grown on me. Did you know that in some cultures, the tortoise represents longevity, immortality, and the cycle of life?\u201d\u201cThank you for understanding,\u201d I said. \u201cDo you think you could remove the tortoise before I bring Lily home?\u201d Mrs. Thompson agreed. \u201cHe\u2019ll be gone before you get back.\u201d Back at the house, I felt a weight of disappointment. The new beginning felt different, and I realized I had already let down someone I liked. The next morning, with a heavy heart but clarity on what was best for Lily and me, I decided to sell the house and find a new place where we could start over without unexpected burdens. \u201cNo pets, please,\u201d I told my realtor. \u201cLily and I will decide on that when she\u2019s older.\u201d Moving out so soon was difficult, but it was the right choice for us. I hoped Mrs. Thompson could find someone to care for Sheldon, while Lily and I sought a fresh start, free from unexpected burdens.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"