14 Years After Renting a Room to a Desperate Young Woman, the Landlord Discovers the Truth About Her Past

Sophie began asking small questions.

What kind of work had Helen’s husband done? What music did he like? Had he always lived in the area?

The questions did not seem strange on their own.

Helen often spoke about him because it felt good to say his name aloud. Sophie listened without becoming impatient or changing the subject.

Helen thought the young woman understood grief.

She knew Sophie’s mother had died recently, and Sophie had grown up without a father in her life.