Good Friend

"Sorry," said Alice.

"Yes!" The woman stopped in her tracks, "what's wrong?" asked the woman.

Alice did not answer the woman's question. Because her eyes were still focused on the bloodstain on the woman's shirt.

"Oh, I forgot, we haven't met yet." The woman extended her hand towards Alice.

"My name is Sea," she said with a smile.

Alice hesitated to take Sea's hand. But seeing Sea's sweet smile, made Alice finally want to shake Sea's gentle hand. It seemed that Sea was a good woman, and as for the matter of blood, she didn't need to panic and think too much. It could be Sea is injured or maybe it's just an ink stain.

"Hi, Sea. I'm Alice," she said.

Then Alice asked to sit down.

"I'm glad I finally have a new neighbor like you," said Sea.

"Me too. And I hope we can be good friends," Alice said hopefully.

"Of course," Sea smiled again.

"Ah, you brought a lot of food?"

"Yes, Alice, I brought it for you. I know you must be tired and don't have much food in stock. It's quite a journey from Oxford to London, and you also have to clean the house, you must be tired and don't have time to buy dinner," said Sea.

"Ah, you're right. I haven't had time to buy food yet, thank you," said Alice.

"You're welcome, Alice,"

Alice drank Sea's hot tea, and Alice also ate, the snacks that Sea brought.

"Are you hungry?" asked Sea.

"Yeah, sorry, I ate too greedily didn't I?" asked Alice.

"It's okay, I still have a lot of food in my house, so let me get some more huh!" Sea rose from her seat.

"Stop!" Alice stopped at Sea.

"Hmm?" Sea looked up, "why?" she asked.

"Ah, Sea! I've had enough of eating this, you don't have to take it again for me," said Alice.

"No, let me get it for you!" Sea went to get food for Alice.

And Alice again saw the bloodstains on Sea's clothes.

"Oh, Sea...."

"Yes?" Sea looked back.

"What blood is that?"

"Blood?" Sea looked at her clothes.

"Ah," she chuckled. "I was just making strawberry juice, I accidentally spilled it," explains Sea.

"Strawberry juice?" Alice couldn't believe it, because the texture of the strawberry color and the blood were not the same. There is a slight difference if you pay attention.

"Oh, not strawberries, but apricots," said Sea.

She was starting to look strange, Alice was a little suspicious, but Sea managed to neutralize the situation.

"Eh, Alice, you live alone? Where's your husband?"

"Ah, husband...." Alice was silent for a moment. "I just got divorced from my husband," Alice replied.

"Wow?" Somehow Sea looks happy.

Alice had seen it, but Sea immediately changed her expression.

"Ah... I'm sorry to hear you, but you don't have to feel alone here, because I'm a widow too," said Sea.

"Widow?"

"Yes. Two months ago my husband died in an accident," said Sea, looking down.

Alice's heart touched, she was sad to hear Sea's story.

It turns out that Sea's household life is no less bad than her life.

"Sea," Alice put her hand on Sea's shoulder, "I'm also sorry for what happened to your husband."

Sea nodded with a smile. "Thank you, but I'm fine, this has become my destiny," she said.

After that Sea left Alice's house and she came back with pancakes and sandwiches.

"Wow, you brought me a lot of food," Alice asked.

"Ah, then in my house no one eats," she said.

"You live alone too?"

Sea nodded, "Yes."

Alice also nodded in understanding with a smile.

"I'm grateful to be your neighbor, I think, we'll be good friends," said Alice

"Of course!" replied the sea.

"Actually I'm not purely alone, sometimes my children and in-laws come to visit me," said Sea.

"Wow, it turns out that your daughter went with your in-laws?"

"Yes,"

"Sorry, Sea, then why don't you take care of your child. That way you won't feel alone anymore?"

"Well, it's true what you say, Alice, but my daughter Clara is more comfortable living with her grandparents, I just want my daughter to live comfortably. Besides, I also feel comfortable living alone," she explained.

"Wow, you are a wonderful woman, Sea. I thought my life was very difficult, but it turns out that your life is much heavier than mine, but you can live it lightly without a burden, which means you are a strong woman," said Alice.

"Well, of course, I am a strong woman, and no one can match me, everyone here, I control it!" said Sea.

"Hah!?" Alice was slightly taken aback and didn't understand what those words meant.

"Eh, you're taking me too seriously again, I'm just amusing myself, Alice. What I said earlier was a joke, but when it comes to my husband's death and my daughter's fate, it's true!" said Sea.

"Haha! I have fooled again, after all, you are too mysterious and like a scary woman," Alice teased.

"Ah? Haha!"

It didn't feel like the night was getting late, then Sea said goodbye to Alice. Alice locked the door tightly and she began to rest.

The next day, she wakes up early and immediately gets ready to go to the restaurant, where Felix works.

Alice was very enthusiastic, it was her first day on the job.

Alice is about to leave by riding Felix's bicycle, which was deliberately lent to Alice.

The restaurant wasn't too far away, but Alice wanted to arrive early and wanted to make a good impression on her first day of work.

Just as she came out of the courtyard, Alice was startled by a mentally retarded young woman approaching her.

The woman's face was covered in bruises. Looks like she needs her help.

Alice approached, "Hello, what are you doing? Can I help you?" she asked.

The woman spoke in sign language she was mute.

Alice didn't know what the woman's words meant.

And before long, Sea came out, as usual, she smiled kindly.

"What happened to you?" asked Sea, holding the woman's shoulder gently.

The mentally retarded and speech impaired woman shook her head as if frightened at the sight of Sea.

"Alice, you just go, let me help her. I'm afraid you're late for work, you have to make a good impression on your first day of work," Sea said.

To be continued