For nearly eight years, I rented out my flat to a young coupleboth newcomers to the city. The man worked at a garage as a mechanic, while the woman was a retail assistant. The rent covered the bills for both my own place and the one I let out, with a little left over for petrol. Our arrangement was strictly professional, and over the years, I never had a single complaint. Then, last year, the womanEmilycalled me in tears. Shed found a lump in her breast, struggled to get a doctors appointment, waited weeks for tests, and was finally diagnosed with stage three cancer. Worse still, her boyfriend, Daniel, left her the moment he found out. With no close friends who could helpand those she had werent well-offshe couldnt afford the rent on her own and asked for two weeks to move out. She planned to return to her village in Yorkshire, where there was a small hospital. Theyd operate in the city, but shed recover back home.
I knew she wouldnt survive thereour hospital was far better equipped. So I told her she could stay rent-free while she underwent treatment. If she could manage the utility bills, fine; if not, Id manage without. She sobbed with gratitude. Her mum came down from the village to help care for her after the surgery. Against the odds, Emily pulled throughthe operation and chemo were successful, and she went into remission.
While they stayed, they still paid what they could towards the bills, insisting they couldnt take my kindness for granted. What stung most, though, were the comments from people who knewcolleagues, friends, even my own motherwho called me a fool for losing money when I couldve found new tenants. Had people really grown so heartless? Daniel never came back, even cruelly saying shed be half a woman with one breast. Emilys lovelyhearing that mustve shattered her.
Now, shes healthy, under regular check-ups, and doing well. She kept working, continued renting from me, and later met a wonderful mantheyre marrying this summer, and Im honoured to be a guest. By autumn, theyll move into their own mortgaged home. Financially, those months were tight, but I didnt go under. And in the end, helping someone survive mattered far more than the money. Sometimes, doing the right thing costs youbut what you gain in kindness cant be measured in pounds.
