Beyond the Gilded Cage

Still, the silence between us lingered long enough for me to break it.

“I’ve seen you around… You live next door, right?” I asked

“Yup. That modern grey house that looks like it’s judging the rest of the street.”

I chuckled. “It’s beautiful. Do they pay teachers that well here?”

Lydia burst out laughing. “God, no. If only.”

“Oh... I just assumed, you know… that house...”

“I don’t own it,” she said