Chapter 2
The next morning, we headed out for work.
Just as we reached the gate of our apartment complex, we bumped into William and Linda.
William glared at us fiercely, his eyes full of hostility.
"What, were you two up to something shady last night? We knocked on your door forever and you never answered," William said.
Michael just smiled.
"We had a dinner party and got home late. Did you need something, William?" he asked.
Linda snorted coldly.
She said, "My dad got sick last night and we had to rush him to the hospital.
"Mavis, do you even get it? Because of you two, William's dad almost died last night."
Michael was about to say something, but I stepped in front of him, giving Linda a half-smile that was more mocking than friendly.
"Linda, I really don't get what you're saying. How is William's dad's illness our fault?" I asked.
Linda got even more fired up, planting her hands on her hips.
She snapped, "Of course it is. Because of you, we couldn't get his dad to the hospital in time.
"We've been neighbors for years. We called you and you just ignored us. If it's not your fault, then whose is it?"
I let out a sarcastic laugh, lips curled in mockery.
I said, "Who knew being neighbors came with a full-time caretaker contract? I must've missed the part where I signed up for round-the-clock service.
"Funny how you had time to call us, but couldn't manage to ring up the ambulance."
"You!" Linda shouted, her voice sharp with anger.
She couldn't believe someone who'd always been chill with her would talk back like that.
She jabbed her finger at me and started ranting.
She yelled, "It's all your fault, but you don't even bother to apologize! And now you've got the nerve to talk to me like that?
"All those years of being neighbors, and it's all for nothing.
"Lucky for you his dad's fine, or I'll never let this go!"
William spat on the ground.
"Oh, so you don't want to own up or act like neighbors? Fine, don't expect us to play nice either," he said.
I put on a look of mock surprise and took a half-step back.
I said, "William, are you threatening me?
"I'm pretty jumpy, you know. If you freak me out and something happens to me, could you handle that kind of responsibility?"
William stared at me, stone-faced.
He shot back, his voice icy.
"Just you wait," he said.
William's dad didn't die.
As I remembered my previous life, a chilling suspicion hit me.
I shared my suspicion with Michael.
He thought the same thing.
A few days later, William's dad was discharged from the hospital.
Linda called me right away.
She was all smiles, not a trace of the hostility from a few days ago.
"Mavis, what are you up to? Got a minute?" she asked.
When I didn't answer, she just kept going, still smiling.
She said, "William's dad's just been discharged. Come give us a lift, will you?
"You know I don't have a car, and he's fresh out of the hospital. No way he can walk all the way home.
"We're neighbors, right? Help me out this once. I'll buy you some fruit as a thank you."
I let out a light laugh and replied, my tone casual and nonchalant.
I said, "I'm not about to take your fruit, Linda. Just a few days ago you were ready to go to war with me, and now you're acting all friendly?
"Sorry, I'm busy. Not coming."
Before she could say another word, I hung up.
Just picturing her fuming on the other end of the line made me want to laugh.
Not long after, she was posting for help in the neighborhood group chat.
Linda: [Any neighbors free to give my dad-in-law a ride home?]
[Mavis wouldn't give us a ride, and it's tough for a woman to handle this alone...]
That cracked me up.
She got time to ask around in the group chat, but couldn't be bothered to just call a cab.
All this just to save a couple of bucks on taxi fare.
Neighbors started chiming in right away.
Someone: [Aw, poor Linda. That's rough.]
[It's tough looking after an elderly parent. Weren't you always super nice to Mavis's family? Can't believe she wouldn't help you out.]
It was Ruby Lewis, the housewife from downstairs.
Honestly, I had no clue why she always gave me attitude. It was not like we'd ever talked much.
Of course, she couldn't resist making drama and even mentioned me in the group chat right away.
Ruby: [Mavis, don't you have any shame? I've seen Linda bring your family fruit and help you out a bunch.]
[You can't do her this one simple favor?]
[Everybody knows your family's loaded and you've got a car. Why not just give Linda a lift?]
Once the conversation got going, the group chat lit up with neighbors jumping in.
Others: [Hey, that's not really fair. Mavis is usually super helpful. Maybe she's just busy or something came up.]
[Seriously, there are tons of taxis by the hospital. Just grab one and head home.]
Some people spoke up for me, but others just teamed up with Ruby to accuse me of being heartless.
Others: [Take a taxi? How are you supposed to get a sick old man into a taxi? Having someone drive them is way better.]
[Exactly. I've seen William's dad before. He's always in a wheelchair. Getting him into a taxi is a nightmare.]
The chat quickly turned into a shouting match.
Nobody even remembered how Linda asked for help in the first place.
Linda started to panic a little.
Linda: [Okay, okay, let's stop fighting. It's my fault for bringing this up.]
[So, is anyone free to give me a lift or not?]
The chat went dead silent.