We missed our appointment after lingering at a fixer-upper full of possibilities, some magnificent, others terrifying. The agent made us wait outside. The old couple two doors down told us that he’d lived in the house since the 1940s. We didn’t know at the time that the couple would become our neighbors. The house had white walls and grey carpets (freshly steamed), skylight, chrome cooker, and views of the hills from the garden. It wasn’t my favorite, but we’d been outbid before. What did we have to lose? It’s funny how the biggest life purchase comes down to a whim.
Regina Beach is an American writer based in the U.K. Her poems and essays focus on the arts, culture, travel, and wellness. Find Regina at www.reginagbeach.com and on Twitter and Instagram @reginagbeach.