学进去

It started 30 years ago with a squirrel. A few months after I had moved into a downtown _________, my next-door neighbor, Nicole Figaro, knocked, asking for help with a squirrel that had gotten into her flat.

I frightened the unexpected _________ away and made a new friend. Soon Nicole was inviting me over for dinner or _________ home-made food at my door. When I went to my beach house, Nicole helped _________ my mail and water my plants. And when she traveled as a flight attendant, I did the same for her. Wherever she went, she’d _________ to bring me wonderful gifts, but her smile has been the greatest of all.

In 1997, I had a lovely child and it was Nicole who took care of me and him. Years later, I returned the favour. I helped out when her husband was sick, _________ her and giving her support. More and more, we drew inspiration from each other.

_________, the pandemic hit. My husband was out of work and my son couldn’t be back to Britain because of the virus. I was _________ about them. Nicole helped my family to prepare for the pandemic and shared necessities with me. Without her, I couldn’t go through _________ times.

A __________ might separate our flats and masks can separate the viruses, but nothing is able to separate our hearts.