The Unexpected Guest at My Door

Life, in my opinion, was supposed to be simple.

Wake up, go to work, pay the bills, and try not to think too much about how lonely it felt to come home to an empty apartment every night. That was the quiet little routine I had built for myself, and I was determined to keep it that way.

My name is Elena Cruz, twenty-six years old, single, and—according to my co-workers—married to my job. I wasn’t exactly offended by the comment. After all, they weren’t wrong. Most people my age were busy planning weddings, traveling with friends, or chasing after dreams bigger than their paychecks. Me? I was trying to survive a nine-to-five office job, and sometimes even a nine-to-nine when the boss decided deadlines were more important than human lives.

Still, I wasn’t ungrateful. My job as an assistant manager in a publishing company at least kept food on the table and the lights on in my tiny apartment. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was mine.

What I didn’t have, however, was family.

My parents had passed away years ago, and with no siblings or close relatives to lean on, the silence in my apartment had long become my only company. I’d gotten used to eating dinner with just the television as background noise and curling up with a book when the nights stretched too long. I’d tell myself that independence was a strength, not a curse. That being alone didn’t mean being incomplete.

But even I had to admit—it was lonely.

And maybe that was why, when my doorbell rang that Monday evening, I was so startled.

Nobody ever visited me.

I checked the peephole and blinked in surprise. What I saw didn’t make sense. Opening the door slowly, I expected a neighbor, a delivery guy, maybe even a lost salesman.

Instead, I found a child.

A boy no taller than my waist stood there, clutching a suitcase almost bigger than himself. His cheeks were round and pink from the chilly air, his black hair soft and slightly messy, and his wide eyes sparkled with something both innocent and determined.

“Auntie~” he chirped sweetly, his voice as soft as cotton candy. “I can’t find my home. Can I stay with you?”

For a long moment, I just stared at him, utterly speechless.

“…Excuse me?”

He blinked at me, tilting his head. Then, without hesitation, he pulled his suitcase over the small gap and waddled right into my apartment like he had every right to be there.

“H-Hey! Wait a second!” I stammered, nearly tripping as I tried to stop him. “You can’t just—hello? I don’t even know your name!”

The boy paused, then turned to face me with the most dazzling smile I had ever seen. “My name’s Eli! Mommy said if I ever got lost, I should look for someone warm. Auntie, you’re warm. Can I stay?”

My heart almost burst on the spot.

This was dangerous. Way too dangerous.

I crouched down to his level, struggling to stay firm. “Listen, Eli. You can’t just stay with strangers. Where are your parents? Did you come here alone?”

He puffed his cheeks in thought, then shook his head. “I don’t know. But I’ll be good! I can wash my hands, brush my teeth, and go to sleep early!”

Oh no. He was too cute.

Every logical thought in my head screamed at me to call the police or child services immediately. But the way his tiny hands gripped the suitcase, the way his voice wobbled just a little at the end, made me pause. He looked so small. So vulnerable.

And maybe… maybe I understood what that felt like.

“Alright,” I finally sighed, giving in. “You can stay here tonight. Just tonight, okay? But tomorrow, we’re going to find your real home.”

His whole face lit up, dimples appearing as he cheered. “Yay! Thank you, Auntie! You’re the best!”

Before I could react, he ran deeper into my apartment, dragging his suitcase along, and began looking around like he had just found a treasure chest.

I rubbed my temples, already regretting my decision. “What have I gotten myself into?”

Of course, I had no idea then that this small act of kindness would change my life completely.

Because one month later, when my doorbell rang again, I opened it to find Eli standing there once more. Only this time, he wasn’t alone.

Behind him stood a tall man with sharp features, broad shoulders, and the same pair of starry eyes.

Before I could even process the shock, Eli pointed at me with the biggest grin and shouted proudly:

“Mommy! Daddy and I can’t find our home. Can we stay with you?”

And just like that, the quiet little life I had carefully built began to crumble.

But maybe… just maybe… it was the beginning of something I had always been missing.

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