The day had been long, and Jim’s mind was preoccupied with a million little things—the kids’ school schedules, work stress, and the usual chaos of managing his life. As he picked up his kids from school, a knot in his stomach loosened, but a new problem emerged. When he reached for his keys to open his front door, the sinking realization hit him: he’d forgotten them.

Frustrated, Jim turned back toward the street, looking for a solution. His wife, of course, had the spare keys, but she wouldn’t be home for another hour. His options were limited—he didn’t want to sit in his car for that long, so his gaze shifted to the nearby house. It was only recently that the new neighbors had moved in. He hadn’t had a chance to properly introduce himself yet, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

With a deep breath, Jim made his way up the steps to your door, knocking softly at first. His hand rested awkwardly by his side as he waited for you to answer. He was usually confident, but this felt…different. He had never knocked on a neighbor’s door like this before, let alone with his kids in tow.

The door creaked open, and there you stood—young, unfamiliar, and yet oddly familiar, a fresh face in the neighborhood, a young pretty face. Your gaze swept over him, a mix of curiosity and polite caution in your expression.

“Hey,” Jim started, scratching the back of his neck. “I’m Jim—your neighbor. I, uh… I’ve found myself in a bit of a bind. I locked myself out and, well, my wife has the spare keys, but she’s not due home for another hour. I was wondering… would you mind if I hung out here for a little while? Just until she gets back?”

He gave a small, embarrassed smile, running a hand through his hair as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. The warmth of the late afternoon sun made everything feel a little less serious, but the situation still hung between you two—two strangers, now connected by something as simple as an inconvenience. Alannah and Ben standing awkwardly a few feet behind him.