Not a minute past 7:00am and the noise next door starts. God, he really must want to piss me off. Tossing my pillow over my ear, I want to cry. I barely slept last night with all the stress at work and everything King has been doing lately, and today I really wanted to sleep in and enjoy some peace and quiet. But, that’s not going to happen obviously.

Peering out from under the pillow, I grab my phone off my nightstand to do some aimless web surfing, maybe it’ll keep me distracted. Going into my favorite celebrity gossip app, I quickly get swallowed up in the crazy news that is the life of the rich and famous, but even focusing on this can’t quiet the banging coming from outside.

Closing out the app, I decide to turn some music on and drag my tired ass out of bed. Peering outside to see if I can see King’s car parked on the street, it’s not there and I find a pang of disappointment at the void. I’m not even sure why I looked. Frustrated at only myself for being so wishy-washy when it comes to him.

I walk into the bathroom; maybe a shower can clear my head. But on the way, I find a paper sticking out underneath my door.

Picking it up, the world around me spins. Everything that I thought

was so terrible . . . really isn’t. I can’t believe the words that are on the paper I’m holding.

NOTICE OF TERMINATION BY LANDLORD

NOTICE TO: Everly Adams, TENANT in possession and all others:

Address of Premises: 1888 Rawlings Avenue, Unit 2-B

TAKE NOTICE THAT:

1. Pursuant to a written lease (the “Lease”) dated January 12, 2016, you are a tenant for the premises described as: 1888 Rawlings Avenue, Unit 2-B (the “Premises”), of which you now hold possession.
2. The building was recently sold to All Designs Architecture, for the purpose of restoration as they deem fit. All leases and tenants transferred with this sale.
3. Your Lease or the applicable laws of the State of Rhode Island require that you be given seven days advance notice prior to the termination of your Lease or tenancy. This Notice of Termination serves as notification of the termination of your Lease.
4. Pursuant to your Lease and the said laws, you are hereby given notice that the Landlord is exercising its right to terminate your lease effective on the 7^th day of August, 2016, and you are required to vacate the Premises at or before noon on this date.
5. All terms and obligations in the Lease, including, but not limited to, the obligation to pay rent, remains in effect until the latter of the 7^th day of August, 2016 and when you have returned possession of the Premises to the Landlord or its agent.

Bracing my weight on the wall, I blink a few times, trying to figure out how this could have happened. And more importantly, how I can fix it. Charging back into my room, I snatch my phone off my bed and dial my landlord. If they really sold the building and this isn’t some stunt that King is pulling, then I want answers.

“Hello?” my landlord, Charlie, answers right away, and I do my best to stay calm.

“Charlie, this is Ever, from apartment 2-B. Why did I just get an eviction notice that says I have seven days before I have to vacate?”

“Oh no, did they already serve those? I barely left the closing thirty minutes ago.”

“So you really sold the building?”

“I did.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Ever, I’m very sorry. I was going to come and talk to all my tenants today. The company told me they were giving everyone sixty days. Are you sure it says seven?”

“Yes,” I shout and he goes silent. “I’m sorry, but I’m really freaking the fuck out here.”

“I completely understand. Let me call them and see what I can do. I’ll call you right back.”

“Thanks.”

We hang up, my heart pounding as I sit on the edge of my bed, so scared at the thought that I’ll actually have to leave my home. I love it here. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else, even with the noise next door. Looking out the window again, his car still isn’t there and I have this sickening feeling that he did this. Maybe he owns this other architecture company and is doing this to get back at me.

My knee is bouncing up and down, I am so upset. I don’t know what to do. Needing answers and to simply take out my frustrations on someone, I call King. I have to know if he is behind this. His phone rings and rings, then finally he answers.

“I knew you’d come to your senses,” his voice is serious.

“Save it, King. I’m not in any fuckin’ mood for your antics.”

“No?” he questions me and I lie back on my bed, exhaling as I search for the words…any words.

“What are you wearing?” he asks.

“Could you try and be serious for once in your life?”

“I could try…but I don’t want to.”

Knowing there is no nice way to accuse someone of something like this, I flat out ask him, “Did you buy my building?”

“No, why?”

“Please don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not, why would you ask me that?”

“’Cause I got an eviction notice that says I have seven days to move out.”

“Did you call your landlord?”

“Of course I did. He confirmed he sold…but said I was supposed to get sixty days. Still…I don’t get why?”

“Does the notice say who bought the building?”

“All Designs Architecture.”

“Let me handle this.”

“No, that’s not what I want. I’ll handle it, I only wanted to see if you were behind it.”

“Do you really think I’d kick you out of your house?”

“I don’t know, King, but please don’t get in the middle of this. I’ll handle it.”

* * *

“Ever,” my dad exclaims, excited and very surprised that I drove all the way over to his house.

“Hey, Dad. How are you?”

“I’m fine.” He stands from his desk, and I give him a hug, doing my best to hide the anxiety that is lurking beneath. I don’t want him to worry about me, but I need his advice on this whole housing situation.

“Are you off today?”

“Yeah…I…I need to talk to you.”

“Of course, have a seat.”

I sit in the little chair that is opposite his desk. The eviction notice is in my hand. “Here,” I pass it to him. “I got this today.”

Very gingerly, he opens it and I can see the confusion right away on his face as he reads it.

“Why? I don’t understand.”

“Me neither. I called Charlie and he said he sold the building.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I didn’t ask. I wish I would’ve, because now I can’t get ahold of him. He said the company told him they were going to give all the tenants sixty days. But this letter says otherwise.”

“Ever, I don’t see how this is legal.”

“Dad, I feel the same, but the paper is notarized and Charlie said he sold.”

“Is it the same company that bought the building next door to you?”

“No, I spoke to that owner and he knows nothing, although he says he wants to help. But—”

“But what? You’re going to let him help you, right?”

“I don’t know, Dad, the owner is that guy who got me kicked out of work and is a little crazy.”

“Then he owes it to you.”

I can’t help but laugh at my dad. My back is against the wall, and neither of us knows shit about legal documents, so unfortunately turning to King might be the only option…or moving…and imagining leaving my home sickens me.

“I’ll figure it out, I might ask him for help. Thank you for your opinion.”

“Of course, Ever, you know…you’re welcome here, if you want?”

I’m grateful to my dad, but looking around at his office, or more like his shrine to my mom, makes me sad. Beyond the logistical issue of how far away my dad lives that would make my commute an utter nightmare, I’m not sure I could handle moving back in here and all the reminders that would come along with it. I’ve worked hard to let her go and put myself in a good place, focusing on my work and getting through each day the best that I can…but still seeing the pain in my dad’s eyes makes me worry that coming back here could set me back.