Hey Neighbour,

I hope you’re well. Maybe we’ve never met before or we did, but I hope you know me by my name. My name is Christel.

Maybe I could tell you a bit about myself – These are the only labels that I hope you can know me by, not with my words or speech, but my actions and deeds. You won’t find me staying in any concrete building except the 5-room HDB apartment I’m living in with my parents. We like to mind our own business.

Ironically, I will invite you to a meal I will prepare and cook for us. So let’s wine and dine together. Let’s catch up. Your family, your work, your life. I want to listen to you, for real. You don’t need to hear my side of the story. I’m sure I would just be fed up as you if I did tell!

If not, I hope that it’s not too much trouble for me to knock on your door, and ask you for some salt and sugar, a cup of milk or some cheese. Whatever more or less, you can give me, I will take. I would be very grateful for your help, because very often, I lack many things in my house.

Most importantly – If you need a place to rest and drop all the baggage you’re carrying for just awhile, don’t hesitate to come over and lay your head on our couch sofa. It’s very comfortable and soft, and we’ll leave you to it. We don’t have to talk, just settle down – because feeling weary can only last so long, as it lasts temporarily as our house is. So, I hope you could get yourself back on your feet, we’ll feed you a meal and pack some food for you, for the rest of your journey back home.

You can call it a stay-cation if you’d like

Love,

your Neighbour.