The tenth day in the sanatorium had begun. The treatment had actually started to take effect, and the areas that were initially painful due to the massages and exercises had also subsided. The body still exuded a pleasant warmth from morning bath, and in an hour and a half the penultimate massage session of the package awaited. Laivi went to her room in her bathrobe to lie down for a while and browse the newspapers. The room was on the second floor, past the reception and up the stairs. This time she was especially lucky with the room, because the windows faced the sea and the view alone had a healing effect. The occupancy of the house was relatively low for the fall season, so she had managed to be completely alone in the two-room apartment. That too was a kind of luxury. Silence and peace. With the window open, all she could hear was the waves of the sea. Perfect relaxation and rest after all that long period of work that had buried Laivi in the last few years.
Laivi arranged the pillows at the head of the bed so that she would be comfortable to read the newspapers in a semi-reclining position. Her body was so relaxed from the warm water and added extracts that she didn’t feel like reading anything more serious. Just headlines and mostly from entertainment pages. The soothing scent of lavender oil wafted from her skin into her nostrils. Oh, what a pleasant feeling it was, a real pleasure! A moment where the passage of time no longer seemed to matter at all and the flow of being simply carried her along.
The moment of enjoyment was interrupted by the ringing of a cell phone. As if from another dimension, reminding Laivi that the intoxicating feeling she had experienced a second ago was only a brief diversion from the real world. Laivi got up from the bed and searched her handbag for her phone. It’s ringing for a so long time, she thought, before looking at the unknown number that appeared on the screen. Really interesting, who is this?
“Laivi is listening,” she decided to answer the call anyway. Ten days away from the city was a pretty long time, and who knows what could happen during that time.
“Hello, can I speak to Laivi Loostik?” the younger male voice on the other end sounded important and official.
“Yes, Laivi Loostik is listening.”
“I’m calling you from the police department.” Laivi`s heart managed to beat a few faster before the stranger continued. “A police report was filed about you about a week ago, saying that you had disturbed your neighbour’s night and day peace with loud music. We were forced to respond to the report and inform you about it.”
“But I’m not even home. I’ve been in the sanatorium for ten days now, and the apartment has been empty all this time. What kind of music can come from an empty apartment? Ah, I think I know who’s behind this false complaint. There is no institution to which Teele Odanaat, a single elderly woman living in the apartment next to mine, has not yet complained about me. This is already a kind of comic. Over the years, she has sent letters to the social services department and then to other city government departments and everywhere else. For example, last Christmas, when I kept the fir branches on the balcony floor in a big black plastic bag before bringing them into the room. She said they would ruin the entire facade of the house. Occasionally, she manages to convince another neighbour to agree, and then she presents herself in her statements as a representative of the majority of the neighbours. But most of the time, she acts as an active individual.”
“Do you have any idea why she’s acting like this?”
“Oh, I never thought of it that way. You know, people are different and there are all kinds of people among us. But really, now that you ask me that, I remember an incident from a long time ago. It was years ago when this lady was in serious trouble. Then she called me and I helped her. Just like people always help each other when someone is in trouble. Or at least they did years ago. With the best wishes and intentions. I won’t go into detail about what it was about at the time, and it’s not important at all now. But after that, she somehow clung to me. At first, she bothered me with phone calls. When I didn’t answer, she started sending texts and then emails. Mostly in an angry and bossy style, asking why I wasn’t answering, why I thought I was better than her, and why I wasn’t cooperating with her. It became quite annoying, so I had no choice but to simply block her on all channels.”
“Don’t get upset now, continue talking calmly.”
“Well, then came the calls to my closest relatives, where this lady started to extort very personal information about me and spread slander.”
“Hmm, what do you mean by slander?”
“The weirdest things. For example, that I don’t sort my trash properly, that I make a terrible noise in my apartment, and that there are dust rollers under my bedroom bed. Until now, I’ve just dismissed all of this as a sick person’s fantasy.”
“Please continue.”
“Well, in short, I informed my loved ones about her phone number and they blocked her too. Then she banged on my apartment door a few times and yelled in the hallway why I wasn’t opening it. After that, the complaints to the authorities started. In all sorts of versions: there’s some horrible music coming from my apartment and who knows what else. I’m left with the feeling that I’ve become her obsession and she’s fighting for my attention by any means possible.”
“So do you listen to music loudly at home?”
“Are you kidding me? I don’t have the means or the time. And I’m not interested either.”
“But why is she harassing you like this?”
“As said, I think she clung to me years ago. A lonely person, kind of unhappy. After all, it seems that no one has tried to understand her or help her. I tried and helped her. But… You know, that time when I was in her apartment and helping her, she tried to hug me. She also said that neighbours should get along well with each other, let`s still hug each other. At the time, I thought it was just a friendly hug, but now it suddenly occurred to me that I don’t know what she imagines for herself… Anyway, since then, at longer or shorter intervals, she has been trying to get my attention through different channels. And more and more often in recent months.”
“Do you want to make a report about harassment?”
“Oh no. Why should I complain about this lonely old woman? I’ll stay away and just try to take these calls from the authorities as inevitable. At first, yes, they hurt, but now I’m slowly getting used to them.”
“As said, you have the opportunity to make a statement to us at any time.”
“I know that, thank you. So, what happens next now?”
“It is our duty to listen to the other party as well. That is what our procedural rules stipulate.”
“Okay, listen up. All the best to you.”
The phone rang with the typical short signals of the end of a call. The mood had gone, the good, pleasant feeling long gone. The time for the massage was approaching and Laivi began to change out of her bathrobe for sweatpants.
***
“You`re kind of tense today. Relax, or the massage won’t do much good.”
The middle-aged masseuse quickly ran her hands over Laivi’s back before lingering on the problem areas. Tension headaches had been bothering Laivi for months, and they were what actually forced her to take time off and go to a sanatorium. It’s good to say, relax. Laivi tried to relax, but her brain was still working. The thoughts that came to mind during the previous conversation swirled around in her head and gave her no peace. What if this Teele lady really has some strange tendencies and a different orientation? Ugh, this is how fear comes into play. But why does she constantly demand my attention? Maybe she’s some kind of pervert? Satan in human form? So, I have loud music playing in my apartment right now, which has robbed her of her night and day peace? The refrigerator was left on, it’s probably humming quietly. The clock on the shelf is also ticking to its own rhythm. Of course, if the batteries haven’t run out in the meantime. When did I change them? I can`t remember right now. Oh, there`s a really painful spot under the shoulder blade. Actually, a good masseuse. With golden hands. Finds the most painful spots herself. Lets the client enjoy themselves and doesn’t ask anything the whole time. I wouldn’t bother to develop any social conversation. The same sore spot again. A little less painful. But still, why did she want to hug me like that years ago? I haven’t thought about that before. Maybe she really has a different orientation and all these dozens of letters of complaint are motivated by some kind of morbid love pain? Or maybe she`s just jealous? I haven`t really seen any men visit her. Or of course I haven`t been watching either. But in any case, I haven`t noticed. There are two days left to stay in the sanatorium. I wouldn`t want to go home right now. Ah, I won`t let some unfortunate old woman ruin my vacation any more. Or maybe she really has some kind of inclination? That neighbours have to get along well and let us hug each other. Oh my god! And I tried to help her with all my heart and thought that this hug was more like support and a sign of goodwill.
“Let`s take the neck and head now. Turn over on your back, I`ll put a pillow under your head.”
Yes, of course I will. I will immediately. Damn it, she could always choose her time. What are the benefits of this treatment course in this way? And the police too. Let`s get a clear picture before they start questioning the parties. Whether any party was even present at the scene of the events. People aren`t exactly pieces of wood, so we keep calling and questioning and traumatizing them for every fabricated complaint. Maybe they should investigate the background behind the clues first?
“Tomorrow will be your last time with me. I hope you have received help.”
“Yes, the headaches have subsided. It has definitely been helpful. Thank you.”
***
Laivi was packing up her things in her room. The last two days had passed quickly. Just like all the previous ones. But she hadn`t been able to enjoy these last few days anymore. At times she was even angry with herself for it. Well, it`s not possible to let a stranger enter your life like that and sow confusion. It`s even so hard to find peace and balance in these hectic times. It`s really scary what kind of society we live in. You don`t know who you can trust and who you can`t, and who will stab you in the back for your help later. Or try to stab you in the back repeatedly. What`s going on in people`s heads? I don`t know. Maybe this is the new normal that we are constantly being told to get used to and adapt to? But look, I don`t get used to it. The world is still endlessly full of evil, everyone just in their own way and on their own level.
Toothpaste and toothbrush have remained to be packed, then everything should be fine. And the key is to get to the reception on time. Laivi let her eyes wander around the room. Everything is in great order; personal stuff is in the bag and the sanatorium`s things are in their original places.
***
Two and a half hours of bus ride were behind. Without any excessive emotions. Rows of natural views. Forest and fields. Fortunately, they haven`t managed to cover everything with concrete yet. It was barely half a kilometre from the bus stop to the house. The weather was chilly, typical of late autumn, but without precipitation. Laivi opened the front door of the house and walked up the stairs. The corridor was somehow gloomy and dreary. Or maybe it only seemed that way to Laivi. She entered her apartment. Quiet and peaceful. No nerve-wracking music. Only the refrigerator growled monotonously in the kitchen corner. The clock ticked on the shelf in its own rhythm. Consequently, the batteries had not yet run out.
Laivi took off her outerwear and looked around. What`s the next lie she`s heard about her home?
Things are needed to be unpacked and put in the washing machine. Even those that couldn`t be worn in the sanatorium need to be washed. Things stored in the bag cannot be placed directly in the wardrobe. Also, it is necessary to cook something for lunch. In short, the vacation is over. It`s weekday again.
Laivi went to the bathroom to turn on the washing machine when the doorbell interrupted her thoughts. It`s already starting. Listen, I just got back. Please, stop it. This is my home. The doorbell continued to ring without interruption.
“Who is there?”
“Postman. You have a registered letter. I need your signature upon delivery.”
“Okay, come on up.”
Laivi opened the door and after a few moments saw the postman. He was wearing a dark blue jacket, a bag with letters slung across his body.
“I went to your door yesterday, but no one was there. It`s good that you`re home now. You can`t leave a registered letter in the mailbox.”
“Yeah, yeah. I just don`t expect anything from anyone. At least not as far as I know.”
Laivi accepted the letter, signed for it, and closed the door again. Hmm, she hadn`t received registered letters for who knows when. Who sends things like that anymore? Everything is done through emails, texts, and phone calls. Laivi took the sheet of paper out of the envelope. It looked like it was some kind of official letter, because the stamps and ink shone through the white paper. She unfolded the paper and began to read:
“You are invited to the opening of Teele Odanaat’s will, which will take place …”
