When Elizabeth enrolled in university, her father—a manager at one of the firms in their small town—had already rented an apartment for his daughter. The girl was eager to start her independent life, so she arrived a few days before classes began to explore and settle in. Her father suggested that Elizabeth find a roommate to ease his and her mother’s worries.
Elizabeth had attended lectures several times, observing girls looking for a place to live, but none seemed right—too flashy and overly confident. She wanted a simple, shy country girl, someone reserved and timid, next to whom Elizabeth would shine like a queen, drawing admiring glances from men.
Just then, a few students stopped by the bulletin board when a petite, slender girl with a heavy bag joined them.
“Are you looking for an apartment?”—Elizabeth asked.
The girl nodded, barely getting a word out before Elizabeth grabbed her hand and pulled her along.
“See that beautiful new building over there? It’s close to campus, right? Want to live with me? The apartment’s comfortable, so don’t overthink it!”—Elizabeth chattered as if she and Natalie, the stranger’s name, had known each other forever.
They carried Natalie’s large bag together, and Elizabeth felt lighthearted, having found exactly what she wanted.
Natalie was from a rural village, so she’d handle the kitchen and keep the place tidy. Elizabeth wasn’t used to such chores. Ever since her mother fell ill, a maid had flawlessly managed their household. Her mother often argued with her father that Elizabeth should contribute to the work, but he adored his daughter and seemed deaf to his wife’s words.
On the first day of classes, Natalie wore a modest outfit she’d sewn herself. Elizabeth spent the morning in front of the mirror, trying on clothes until she settled on an elegant red dress with an open neckline. She painted her lips to match, adorned herself with jewelry, and smacked her lips in satisfaction:
“Well, we’re ready to go!”
After a moment’s thought, she pulled a brooch from her jewelry box:
“Here, take it. I love giving gifts,”—she said. Seeing Natalie’s surprise, Elizabeth pinned the brooch to her outfit herself.
Though Natalie came from a poor, large family, and Elizabeth was the only child of wealthy parents, they hit it off right away. Elizabeth only entered the kitchen to eat; Natalie did the cooking. It brought her joy—she’d been making dumplings with her mother since third grade, stuffing rolls with cheese, and frying pancakes for breakfast. It was the quickest way her mother could feed five children. Beyond schoolwork, as the eldest, Natalie had responsibilities: feeding the younger ones, teaching them to speak, rocking them to sleep, and changing diapers.
Now, Natalie missed her siblings dearly. When she went home on weekends, she bought modest gifts with her stipend. She’d tell Elizabeth how they’d kiss her with joy, while her mother urged her not to spend on trinkets but to buy something for herself. Hugging her mother, Natalie would say:
“But it’s these little things that make up our life, don’t they, Mommy?”
One day, Elizabeth asked:
“It must be nice to have brothers and sisters. But tell me, Natalie, how will your parents divide the house among you all?”
“One day, fate will sort it out. The main thing is that everyone’s healthy,”—she replied.
Elizabeth burst out laughing:
“What, you believe in fate? I think we’re the ones who should control our destiny,”—she said, wiping tears of laughter.
“You know, I do believe in fate. Sometimes you plan one thing, but what’s meant to happen happens,”—Natalie countered.
She noticed Elizabeth often wrote in a thick notebook, not a school one. She must keep a diary, Natalie thought. Once, when Elizabeth stepped out, Natalie peeked inside. Each line surprised her. Apparently, Elizabeth wasn’t just going for walks—she was meeting someone.
Her boyfriend was named Robert. Dark-haired, tall, with a mole on his right cheek, he jogged near their building in a black Adidas tracksuit and white sneakers. Elizabeth must be smitten, even writing lyrical poems. The diary intrigued Natalie, and she began sneaking glances, unaware that Robert was a fictional character Elizabeth dreamed up.
One day, Elizabeth left the apartment again. Natalie felt lonely and decided to head to the campus library. A tall, lean young man with a large bouquet of roses approached her. She wondered where she’d seen him before, then realized—this was Robert, Elizabeth’s boyfriend, rushing to meet her. But why did his eyes hold such regret and despair?
“Hello,”—Natalie blurted out.
The young man stopped, looking at her in surprise.
“Here, take these,”—he said, handing her the bouquet. “I can’t just throw away such beauty. They were for someone who betrayed me.”
Natalie, usually shy and hesitant, blocked his path. She was certain he was Elizabeth’s love. Her friend had described him so vividly that Natalie felt she already knew him: curly hair, a mole on his right cheek, an Adidas tracksuit—it all matched.
“Elizabeth’s already left and is waiting for you,”—she said.
A bitter smirk crossed his face.
“You’ve got it mixed up, kid. It doesn’t matter anymore. Let me treat you to coffee. What’s your name, kind soul?”—he asked.
“Natalie,”—she replied, flustered. “And you?”
“I’m Robert.”
Mesmerized, Natalie stared at the stranger, forgetting about the library. She timidly took his hand.
Soft music in the café lightened Robert’s mood. He opened up, sharing that he was from a rural village, from a large family, and worked hard. He’d hoped to build a life with his girlfriend, but she’d cheated on him with his best friend.
“Well, Natalie, life goes on. This music’s nice—let’s not talk about sad things. Want to dance?”—Robert said with a smile.
Elizabeth was waiting for Natalie, growing impatient. When Natalie finally unlocked the door, Elizabeth demanded sternly:
“Where were you?”
Natalie smiled slyly:
“On an unexpected date. With a handsome guy in an Adidas tracksuit, mole on his right cheek. His name’s Robert.”
Elizabeth’s face flushed, her lips trembling.
“Are you mocking me? You read my diary? Answer me!”
She shook Natalie by her thin shoulders. Natalie didn’t want to admit she’d read the diary. Besides, what did it matter? She was stunned by the situation herself. But she liked Robert. Though she knew he wasn’t over his ex, she agreed to keep seeing him.
Soon, Natalie told Robert everything. She’d read her friend’s fantasies and believed them, and when she saw him, it felt like she already knew him. Robert laughed heartily:
“You’re a funny one, Natalie, and… different, not like everyone else,”—he said, kissing her.
Elizabeth wasn’t happy for her friend. Natalie’s radiant smile after dates irritated her.
One day, Natalie found Elizabeth in tears.
“What’s wrong, friend?”—she asked.
“Friend? What’s gotten into you? Look at yourself, you pathetic country girl! Who’d want you? patio, Elizabeth would shine like a queen, drawing admiring glances from men.
Just then, a few students stopped by the bulletin board when a petite, slender girl with a heavy bag joined them.
“Are you looking for an apartment?”—Elizabeth asked.
The girl nodded, barely getting a word out before Elizabeth grabbed her hand and pulled her along.
“See that beautiful new building over there at 123 Campus Avenue? It’s close to the university, right? Want to live with me? The apartment’s comfortable, so don’t overthink it!”—Elizabeth chattered as if she and Natalie, the stranger’s name, had known each other forever.
They carried Natalie’s large bag together, and Elizabeth felt lighthearted, having found exactly what she wanted.
Natalie was from a rural village, so she’d handle the kitchen and keep the place tidy. Elizabeth wasn’t used to such chores. Ever since her mother fell ill, a maid had flawlessly managed their household at 456 Oak Street. Her mother often argued with her father that Elizabeth should contribute to the work, but he adored his daughter and seemed deaf to his wife’s words.
On the first day of classes, Natalie wore a modest outfit she’d sewn herself. Elizabeth spent the morning in front of the mirror, trying on clothes until she settled on an elegant red dress with an open neckline. She painted her lips to match, adorned herself with jewelry, and smacked her lips in satisfaction:
“Well, we’re ready to go!”
After a moment’s thought, she pulled a brooch from her jewelry box:
“Here, take it. I love giving gifts,”—she said. Seeing Natalie’s surprise, Elizabeth pinned the brooch to her outfit herself.
Though Natalie came from a poor, large family, and Elizabeth was the only child of wealthy parents, they hit it off right away. Elizabeth only entered the kitchen to eat; Natalie did the cooking. It brought her joy—she’d been making dumplings with her mother since third grade, stuffing rolls with cheese, and frying pancakes for breakfast. It was the quickest way her mother could feed five children. Beyond schoolwork, as the eldest, Natalie had responsibilities: feeding the younger ones, teaching them to speak, rocking them to sleep, and changing diapers.
Now, Natalie missed her siblings dearly. When she went home on weekends to her family’s farm at 789 Rural Lane, she bought modest gifts with her stipend. She’d tell Elizabeth how they’d kiss her with joy, while her mother urged her not to spend on trinkets but to buy something for herself. Hugging her mother, Natalie would say:
“But it’s these little things that make up our life, don’t they, Mommy?”
One day, Elizabeth asked:
“It must be nice to have brothers and sisters. But tell me, Natalie, how will your parents divide the house among you all?”
Natalie blushed, caught off guard by the question—she’d never thought about it.
“One day, fate will sort it out. The main thing is that everyone’s healthy,”—she replied.
Elizabeth burst out laughing:
“What, you believe in fate? I think we’re the ones who should control our destiny,”—she said, wiping tears of laughter.
“You know, I do believe in fate. Sometimes you plan one thing, but what’s meant to happen happens,”—Natalie countered.
She noticed Elizabeth often wrote in a thick notebook, not a school one. She must keep a diary, Natalie thought. Once, when Elizabeth stepped out, Natalie peeked inside. Each line surprised her. Apparently, Elizabeth wasn’t just going for walks—she was meeting someone.
Her boyfriend was named Robert. Dark-haired, tall, with a mole on his right cheek, he jogged near their building in a black Adidas tracksuit and white sneakers. Elizabeth must be smitten, even writing lyrical poems. The diary intrigued Natalie, and she began sneaking glances, unaware that Robert was a fictional character Elizabeth dreamed up.
One day, Elizabeth left the apartment again. Natalie felt lonely and decided to head to the university library at 101 College Road. A tall, lean young man with a large bouquet of roses approached her. She wondered where she’d seen him before, then realized—this was Robert, Elizabeth’s boyfriend, rushing to meet her. But why did his eyes hold such regret and despair?
“Hello,”—Natalie blurted out.
The young man stopped, looking at her in surprise.
“Here, take these,”—he said, handing her the bouquet. “I can’t just throw away such beauty. They were for someone who betrayed me.”
Natalie, usually shy and hesitant, blocked his path. She was certain he was Elizabeth’s love. Her friend had described him so vividly that Natalie felt she already knew him: curly hair, a mole on his right cheek, an Adidas tracksuit—it all matched.
“Elizabeth’s already left and is waiting for you,”—she said.
A bitter smirk crossed his face.
“You’ve got it mixed up, kid. It doesn’t matter anymore. Let me treat you to coffee. What’s your name, kind soul?”—he asked.
“Natalie,”—she replied, flustered. “And you?”
“I’m Robert.”
Mesmerized, Natalie stared at the stranger, forgetting about the library. She timidly took his hand.
Soft music in the café at 321 Main Street lightened Robert’s mood. He opened up, sharing that he was from a rural village, from a large family, and worked hard. He’d hoped to build a life with his girlfriend, but she’d cheated on him with his best friend.
“Well, Natalie, life goes on. This music’s nice—let’s not talk about sad things. Want to dance?”—Robert said with a smile.
Elizabeth was waiting for Natalie, growing impatient. When Natalie finally unlocked the door, Elizabeth demanded sternly:
“Where were you?”
Natalie smiled slyly:
Elizabeth’s face flushed, her lips trembling.
“Are you mocking me? You read my diary? Answer me!”
She shook Natalie by her thin shoulders. Natalie didn’t want to admit she’d read the diary. Besides, what did it matter? She was stunned by the situation herself. But she liked Robert. Though she knew he wasn’t over his ex, she agreed to keep seeing him.
Soon, Natalie told Robert everything. She’d read her friend’s fantasies and believed them, and when she saw him, it felt like she already knew him. Robert laughed heartily:
“You’re a funny one, Natalie, and… different, not like everyone else,”—he said, kissing her.
Elizabeth wasn’t happy for her friend. Natalie’s radiant smile after dates irritated her.
One day, Natalie found Elizabeth in tears.
“What’s wrong, friend?”—she asked.
“Friend? What’s gotten into you? Look at yourself, you pathetic country girl! Who’d want you? Do you think I believe you’re with this Robert? Why did I even bring you here? I don’t want to see you!”—Elizabeth sobbed hysterically.
Natalie hesitated. She could’ve reminded Elizabeth that she paid her share of the rent, cleaned, and cooked—so what was her fault? But she didn’t argue and, a few days later, moved to another apartment Robert found for her at 654 Maple Drive. With her pure love, simplicity, and kindness, she sparked something in his heart. When Natalie graduated, they married. Robert started his own business and needed a reliable, wise accountant like his beloved.
Recently, in a park at 987 Fountain Square where a fountain babbles playfully, Natalie ran into Elizabeth. Impeccably dressed, in high heels with flawless makeup, yet her eyes held emptiness and sorrow.
-I’m sorry I called you a country bumpkin. When you left, I missed you. I cried. I remembered your dumplings, borscht, and casserole. I see you’re happy with Robert, expecting a child. I, sadly, am still alone. I have everything, yet nothing,—Elizabeth whispered.
In that moment, Natalie felt pity for the beautiful woman. An idea struck her:
-Will you be our daughter’s godmother? We’ll name her Elizabeth.
A warm smile lit up Elizabeth’s face, a tear rolling down her cheek:
– Of course, I will. Thank you, Natalie!
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