I SPENT YEARS COOKING DINNER FOR THE LONELIEST, MOST DIFFICULT 80-YEAR-OLD MAN ON MY STREET — WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, HIS WILL LEFT ME AND HIS 3 CHILDREN SPEECHLESS.

That was all he gave me, but it told me enough.

***

After that, I understood Arthur a little better.

And I didn’t stop bringing the food.

If anything, I showed up more.

Seven years went by like that.

Neighbors called me crazy.

Maybe I was.

“They stopped coming.

***

Then, last Tuesday came.

Arthur’s porch light wasn’t turned on as usual.

I noticed right away. When he didn’t answer my knock, I tried the handle. It was unlocked.

I stepped inside, cautiously.

“Arthur?”

Nothing.

I walked down the hallway and pushed open a door.

I found him lying in bed peacefully, as if he’d just fallen asleep. He was 80.