Visitor

I distracted myself from Jacob's rejection of my cooking by focusing my attention on the Televizia, carefully listening and furiously taking notes. Despite what happened, I wasn't going to let it discourage me from learning about his language and country, or from paying back the kindness he did show me in whatever way he would accept.

I was just about to get up from the couch to go clean the floors when I heard noise from outside, then approaching footsteps. It was still too early for Jacob to arrive, so I assumed it was the neighbor who lived next door to him. I heard her sometimes during the day. I got up to go to the bathroom, where the cleaning supplies were stored, when the key turned in the lock. Jacob must have returned early after all. I turned to greet him, and instead found myself facing a girl who appeared to be the same age as me. She was carrying her coat in one arm, while pulling a trunk on wheels with the other hand, and wearing a backpack on her back.