A heartless landlord evicts a woman who can’t pay her rent on time. When he goes to his sister’s house for a family dinner, he’s surprised to find her there.
Diana Salas’s life had been particularly difficult. At sixty-two, she had seen many more dark days than sunny ones and had cried many tears.
But Diana wasn’t the kind of woman to give up. Every time life knocked her down, she got back up, ready to move forward.
She had lost her husband three years earlier, and then a tornado leveled her home. Instead of sitting back and mourning, she decided to start over. She took her savings and bought a small grocery store in a pretty town. It was perfect for her.
Image for illustrative purposes. | Photo: Unsplash
And it wasn’t just the place that was charming. The community as a whole was welcoming and warm, with the exception of Cristóbal Torres, the landlord of the small apartment Diana had rented, a short walk from the store.
Diana was the perfect tenant. She was quiet, didn’t damage the property, and always paid her rent on time. And then, the last month, things got complicated. Mr. Torres took the money out of the payment envelope and waved it in her face.
“I’m missing $120, Mrs. Salas,” he said in a nasty tone.
Diana blushed. “As I was explaining, many have had a hard time with the pandemic, so I extended credit to some families in need… And this month I’m a little short. I’ll pay you back the $120 in two weeks…”
“I’m a businessman, not a charity! I want you out by the end of the week!” Cristobal yelled at him.
“But Mr. Torres…” Diana protested. “It’s only for a couple of weeks, and it won’t happen again!”
“It’s happened once, and that’s enough for me. I don’t want you here,” Christopher said coldly and left.
He’d seen Diana’s grocery store and knew it was doing very well. There were always people coming in and out, carrying heavy shopping bags full of produce, and her deli section, he’d heard, was extremely popular.
“She’s short of money!” he said irritably. “She’s a profiteer!”
The man went home and got ready to go to his younger sister’s house for dinner. Vanessa was his favorite sister, and he cared about her. His marriage hadn’t gone well, and he’d had to get a divorce. He worked two jobs to make ends meet.
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He had offered his 16-year-old son a weekend job, but Vanessa had always refused. “It’s okay, Cristobal,” she would say. “I can manage on my own!”
But Christopher had seen the dark shadows under her eyes and how thin her face was becoming.
It was his nephew’s birthday, so Cristóbal stuffed some bills into an envelope and put it in his jacket pocket. Then he walked three blocks to Vanessa’s house.
He knocked on the door and his sister greeted him with a happy smile. She seemed more relaxed and much happier. Whatever she was cooking for dinner smelled delicious and made his mouth water.
“Hi!” she greeted, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Where’s the birthday boy?”
“Playing video games!” her sister exclaimed. Vanessa walked toward the stairs and yelled, “Joel, Diana, come down! It’s time for dinner!”
To Cristóbal’s dismay, Mrs. Salas, the tenant he had just evicted from his property, came downstairs. She seemed to be on good terms with her nephew and sister. Diana was equally surprised to see him, but she remained calm.
“Hi,” she greeted with a discreet smile. “I didn’t know you were Vanessa’s brother…”
Cristobal blushed and cleared his throat. “Yes, she’s my little sister…”
“Come on!” Vanessa shouted. “The roast will get cold!”
“Roast!” Joel exclaimed. “It’s my favorite… But Mom, you’re getting paid next week! How could you afford it?”
Diana smiled at Joel and patted his hand. “Don’t worry about it,” she said. “Your mom’s credit is great. That smells AMAZING, and I’m starving!”
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Christopher leaned over and asked in a low voice, “Is Vanessa the person you’re helping?”
Diana smiled. “She’s one of them,” she replied. “Maybe she didn’t tell you: she lost one of her jobs, so I’m helping her until she gets back on her feet.”
Cristóbal felt a flush of embarrassment rise in his cheeks. “I’m so sorry about… you know… But why didn’t Vanessa ask me for help?”
Diana said gently, “Vanessa wants to be on her own and raise her child. Help from a friend who gives her credit is one thing; being a poor relative begging for charity is another.”
Cristóbal whispered, “I’m telling you, from now on, you’ll get the apartment for half price. Consider it an investment in the city’s well-being—and my sister’s!”
At the end of the evening, Cristóbal discovered Diana to be a charming and fun woman with a unique outlook on life. That night, his perception of his community changed, and he decided to follow her example. She would be a helping hand from now on.
Image for illustrative purposes. | Photo: Unsplash
What can we learn from this story?
- When things get tough, it’s important to help each other. Diana was quietly helping people who were going through a difficult time by giving them credit for their food purchases.
- It’s never too late to admit mistakes and make positive changes. When Cristóbal learned the reason his tenant hadn’t paid in full, he understood he had acted wrongly. Not only did he allow Diana to remain in his home, but he began to see things from a new, much more empathetic perspective.
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This story was inspired by a reader’s story and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images shown are for illustrative purposes only. Share your story with us; it could change someone’s life. If you’d like to share yours, please send it to [email protected] .
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