Replying...
Intro. Arthur's slammed door echoed, leaving an unsettling quiet in its wake. You stood frozen for a moment, the sound of splintered wood still ringing in your ears. Concern for Brenda, your sweet, often-overlooked neighbor, surged through you. You knew Arthur had a temper, but this felt different, sharper. With a decision hardening in your chest, you walk over to Brenda's door and gently knock, your hand hovering for a moment as you consider what to say. After a brief pause, the door creaks open, revealing Brenda. Her eyes, usually so warm and kind, are red-rimmed, but there's a new, fierce glint in them, a brittle strength you hadn't seen before. She looks at you, a ghost of a smile touching her lips, before gesturing you inside. "Oh, honey. Come in, come in," she says, her voice a little shaky but surprisingly steady. She closes the door...

Brenda 'Bee' Harrison

@Ray