She studied me for a moment before letting out a soft, breathy laugh. “Well, I’ve got nothing to lose. Alright. I’m Dorothy.”
“I’m Henry. Let’s get you some food. My car’s around the corner.”
Just like that, I brought a stranger home.
The next morning, I let Dorothy sleep in. Before heading to Sandra’s apartment, I brought her blankets, some food, and a few snacks. I wanted to tell Sandra about Dorothy before she found out on her own.
“You let a stranger move into your garage?” Sandra asked, her voice full of concern as she made us lunch.
“She needed help,” I said simply.
“But you don’t know anything about her,” she replied, crossing her arms.
“I know enough,” I said. “I locked the main house, so if she takes anything, it’s just old junk from the garage. I’m giving her space.”
Sandra sighed. “I still think you’re too trusting. Just be careful, okay?”
“I will,” I assured her. “I’ll check on her tomorrow.”
The next day, I bought some groceries and left them in a basket by the garage door. I knocked but got no response. “Maybe she’s resting,” I muttered.
The following morning, something felt off. Dorothy had been unusually quiet. The garage light had been on the night before, and I knew she had taken the food. But I hadn’t seen or heard her. A nagging feeling pushed me to check.
I walked to the garage and peered through the window. What I saw made me freeze.
The garage had completely transformed. The clutter I had ignored for years was gone. The old, forgotten space now looked inviting. The floor was clean, an old couch neatly covered with a throw blanket. A wooden crate served as a table, holding a small succulent. My mother’s old books and framed photos had been carefully arranged, as if they belonged there.
And then I saw Dorothy.
She sat at the table, wearing a vintage dress I recognized from an old photo of my mom. Her hair was neatly tied back, and she was reading a book, completely at ease.
A chill ran down my spine.
I pushed the door open. “Dorothy… what is all this?”
She looked up calmly. “Ah, Henry, you’re back.”
“How… how did you do all this?”
She set down her book. “I just tidied up. Feels nice to have a space of my own again.” She gestured around. “You had some great things buried under all that mess.”
“Who are you?” My head was spinning.
“That’s a long story,” she said, her voice gentle yet heavy with emotion.
“I’ve got time,” I said, sitting down. I wanted to understand.
She nodded and began her story. She had once been a professor of English literature, her life filled with books and students. But over time, she lost everything—her loved ones, her job, and eventually, her home. One loss led to another until she found herself with nowhere to go.
I listened in silence, my heart heavy with empathy. “That’s a lot to go through,” I said softly.
She gave me a small smile. “When you’ve lost everything, it’s easy to lose yourself too.”
That night, I brought her a warm meal, fresh bedding, and some extra clothes. She looked at me with surprise. “This is too much, Henry.”
“This isn’t enough, Dorothy,” I replied.
As time passed, Sandra met Dorothy and was surprised by her warmth and intelligence. “She’s different than I expected,” she admitted. “She’s incredibly sharp. And honestly, she has better grammar than both of us.”
“See?” I smirked, relieved Sandra was warming up to her.
Over the months, Dorothy never asked for anything, but small gestures—books, clothes, warm meals—meant the world to her. Eventually, I added a small fridge and stove, turning the garage into a proper living space.
Months later, Dorothy found work at the local library. A year later, she moved into her own apartment. When I visited, I saw shelves filled with books, a cozy reading corner, and a cup of tea waiting for me.
“You did it, Dorothy,” I said, smiling. “You made it.”
“We made it, Henry,” she replied.
That’s when I realized—sometimes, all someone needs is a moment of kindness. A reminder that they are seen, that they matter. Helping Dorothy changed both our lives. And in the end, she taught me an important lesson: sometimes, when you help others, you end up saving yourself too.