Ellen stood on the balcony, watching movers unload a van and carry furniture and various-sized boxes into the building. New neighbors were moving into their apartment complex. She returned to the kitchen and heard a rustle from the hallway. Panic surged through her, her breath caught, and her heart pounded anxiously. She pressed herself against the wall in fear. But then Alexander walked into the kitchen.
— Why are you so scared? It’s just me, — he said, approaching and kissing his wife to calm her. — We’ve got new neighbors. They’re moving in right now.
— Have you seen them? Are they young? Do they have kids? — Ellen spoke quickly, though her heart was already beating more steadily.
— A young couple, no kids, from what I could tell. I didn’t ask, though. We’ll meet them later. Smells delicious! — Alexander inhaled deeply and closed his eyes.
Ellen smiled, fully calmed, and began setting plates on the table.
Over the weekend, the new neighbor came to introduce herself. She was a pleasant young woman, cheerful and talkative. She asked who had lived in their apartment before them and warned that they’d be making noise due to minor renovations. Her husband had suggested waiting to move in until after the repairs, but she was eager to settle into their own place. Before this, they’d been living with her mother. She mentioned her husband was an avid fisherman and had gone off to the lakes. So, she decided to ease her loneliness by meeting the neighbors.
They drank tea, and as she left, Mary—the new neighbor’s name—invited them for a return visit once they were settled.
True to her word, the sounds of hammering, drilling, and furniture being moved echoed through the walls all day. Ellen worked from home, and the noise was disruptive, grating on her nerves. She never went outside alone, without Alex. So, she put on headphones and played music.
One day, she decided to brave the outdoors to escape the noise. She couldn’t stand the confined space of the elevator, so she took the stairs. A man was coming up as she descended. Ellen pressed her back against the wall to let him pass, turning her face away to avoid eye contact. Her heart fluttered like a trapped bird, and a trickle of sweat ran down her spine. She squeezed her eyes shut. The man gave her a puzzled look and hurried upward, skipping three steps at a time. Ellen bolted downstairs.
Only when she reached the sunlit street could she catch her breath, regretting leaving the safety of her apartment. She walked until she met Alex near the building.
Three weeks later, Mary invited them over. Ellen wore her favorite elegant dress, pinned her hair into a high updo, and applied makeup to her eyes and lips.
— You look so beautiful, — Alexander said, gently adjusting an earring caught in a curl of her hair. — Ready? Let’s go. We won’t stay long, don’t worry.
Ellen grabbed a gift bag for the housewarming and followed her husband. Mary opened the door, and the aroma of braised meat mixed with vanilla and fresh-baked goods wafted over them.
— Steve, meet our neighbors, Ellen and Alexander, — Mary said, stepping forward.
A tall, broad-shouldered man rose from the couch. Alexander stepped forward, hand extended for a handshake, and Ellen emerged from behind him… Upon seeing the man, her smile vanished, the gift bag slipped from her hands, and she staggered, clutching her throat as if she couldn’t breathe. In a panic, she rushed to the door. Her trembling fingers fumbled with the lock, yanking at the handle… Her vision darkened, and Ellen felt herself losing consciousness.
— Ellen! — Alexander’s strong arms caught her just in time.
— What’s wrong? Is she sick or something? — Steve asked indifferently when Mary returned after seeing the neighbors out.
— She seemed perfectly normal to me, — Mary shrugged. — I don’t get it. Maybe the smells got to her? Could she be pregnant with morning sickness? I bet that’s it. I cooked meat, of all things. I’ll go check on her.
A distressed Alexander opened the door.
— I’m so sorry. Is your wife pregnant? Did the smells make her sick? It happens. And I just had to make meat, — Mary rambled, apologizing.
— No, my wife isn’t pregnant, — Alexander said, his tone cold.
— Then what happened? Why did she get sick? Is she… ill? — Mary lowered her voice, her eyes filled with genuine concern.
— Are you sure you want to know? You won’t like it. Your life won’t be the same after what I tell you, — Alexander said, his voice gravely serious.
— What are you talking about? — Mary pushed past Alex and stepped determinedly into the room.
Ellen lay on the couch in her elegant dress, facing the wall.
— Ellen, I’m going to tell her. Then we’ll figure out what to do, — Alexander said, cutting Mary off.
— Tell her what? Decide what? Stop speaking in riddles! — Mary snapped, frustrated by the vagueness.
— Do what you think is right, — Ellen replied dully, not turning her head.
Alex led Mary to the kitchen and closed the door.
— Seven years ago… Ellen wasn’t my wife then. She was coming home from university one evening. Her dorm was tucked deep in a residential area. It was dusk, and the streetlights weren’t on yet. The courtyards had no lighting at all.
Two guys came out from behind a building. One grabbed her purse. Ellen held on, refusing to let go. They dragged her into some bushes. She screamed, fought back. They covered her mouth. No one was around, or if anyone heard, they didn’t help or call the police. They raped her, tried to strangle her. Maybe someone scared them off, or maybe she passed out, and they thought she was dead. Either way, they left her there. Those monsters didn’t even hide their faces, certain she wouldn’t survive.
Needless to say, they were never found. The investigator outright told her she shouldn’t have been walking alone at night, that she provoked them. She underwent extensive treatment. She can’t have children. Her psyche suffered the most. Since then, she can’t handle darkness, crowds, or elevators. She’s terrified of men. We met at a clinic. I’m a psychotherapist.
— That’s horrific, — Mary said, tears in her eyes. — But what does this have to do with us?
— With you, nothing. With your husband, everything. Ellen recognized him. Those kinds of memories burn into your mind against your will, — Alexander said, and Mary paled, covering her face with her hands.
— Could she have mistaken him? You said she’s scared of all men, — Mary said, clinging to hope.
— She’s scared, yes, but she’s never confused anyone with those rapists.
— What do I do now? My husband… I can’t believe it. Yes, he can be rough, especially when he’s been drinking. But I never imagined… Alex, what do I do? You’re right, everything’s changed… — Tears streamed down Mary’s face.
— The only right thing is to go to the police, — Alexander said calmly, deliberately. — A criminal must face justice. You saw what they did to my wife.
— It’s not true. It can’t be! So many years have passed. How could you prove his guilt now? — Mary refused to accept it.
— It can be proven. They found skin and blood under Ellen’s nails… She fought, scratched them. A DNA test could be done, I suppose. I’m not an expert in solving crimes years later, — Alexander paused. — Mary, you realize Ellen can’t live next door to you, to your husband. What would you do in our place?
— We just bought this apartment, did renovations… God, what am I saying? — Mary covered her face again.
She stood, her legs heavy as if weighed down, and shuffled to the door.
Alexander watched her go with pity. He felt sorry for the woman learning the truth about her husband. But he felt sorrier for Ellen. So much time and effort had gone into helping her start living again, trusting him. Now they’d have to start over. He sat beside his wife. But moments later, the doorbell rang, and Ellen flinched, clinging to Alexander in fear.
— I’m here. Don’t be afraid, — he said, kissing her before answering the door. A tear-streaked Mary stood there.
— He… It’s true… — she sobbed. — I came… his things… He ran, took his stuff and all the money… — She broke down, burying her face in Alexander’s chest.
He led her to the kitchen and gave her water.
— I’m sorry. By running, he erased all doubt and exposed himself. Please, write down his details. It’ll help the police find him faster. No, don’t bother. They’ll come to you anyway. Mary, I know it’s hard—he’s your husband. But there’s no other way.
At first, the police refused to pursue Steve, citing Ellen’s mental state. But eventually, they apprehended him. He denied everything, shouting that a crazy woman had mistaken him, that she could’ve confused him after so many years. His swift flight was undeniable proof of his guilt. He hadn’t recognized his victim—he just panicked, knowing he had something to hide.
In the end, Steve confessed and gave up his accomplice, who was already serving time for theft. The accomplice, bitter at his partner for escaping justice, confirmed everything.
Ellen seemed to come back to life. She still feared elevators and crowds, but she started going outside more often—to the store, not just with Alex but also with Mary, who remained their neighbor for the time being.
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