Virgo sat on the worn-out couch in his one-bedroom apartment, scrolling through job listings on his laptop. The evening was settling in, casting a warm, golden hue through the window. The soft hum of the refrigerator and the distant sounds of city traffic were the only background noise. Life had been particularly challenging lately. After losing his job a few months back, the bills were piling up, and he was running out of options. The thought of moving back in with his parents, something he had promised himself he’d never do again, was becoming more appealing by the day.
His phone buzzed with a message from his girlfriend, Libra. He tapped on the notification and read her text: “Hey, just checking in. How’s everything going? Can we meet up?”
Virgo sighed and typed back: “Hey, it’s been rough. Things aren’t great, but I’m managing. Maybe we can meet up tomorrow?”
As he pondered his situation, there was a sudden knock on the door. Frowning, Virgo glanced at the clock. It was almost nine in the evening—too late for visitors. He shuffled to the door and peeked through the peephole, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
“Mom? Dad?” He quickly unlocked and opened the door, revealing his parents standing there with suitcases in hand.
“Surprise!” his mother, Cancer, said with a nervous smile.
“Dad, Mom, what are you doing here?” Virgo asked, stepping aside to let them in.
“We have a little situation,” his father, Sagittarius, replied, wheeling in a large suitcase. “Mind if we come in first?”
Virgo moved aside, still in shock. His parents, who lived three states away, had never shown up unannounced before. He watched as they took in the modest size of his apartment, their faces masked with polite smiles.
Cancer sat down on the couch, patting the seat next to her for Virgo to join. Sagittarius remained standing, looking somewhat out of place in the cramped space.
“Alright,” Virgo said, sitting down. “What’s going on?”
“Well,” Cancer began, “your father and I… we sold the house.”
“You what?” Virgo blinked. “Why would you do that?”
“To be closer to you!” Sagittarius interjected with a forced cheerfulness. “We missed you, kiddo.”
“Missed me?” Virgo echoed, trying to process this. “You guys haven’t mentioned moving at all. What’s really going on?”
Cancer sighed, exchanging a glance with Sagittarius. “The truth is, things have been tough for us too. Your dad’s company downsized, and we couldn’t keep up with the mortgage payments.”
“And rather than tell you over the phone, we thought we’d come in person,” Sagittarius added. “Surprise!”
Virgo rubbed his temples. “So, you guys are homeless?”
“Not homeless,” Cancer corrected. “Just in transition.”
“And where exactly are you transitioning to?” Virgo asked, already fearing the answer.
Sagittarius and Cancer exchanged another glance. “Well,” Cancer said slowly, “we were hoping we could stay with you for a while. Just until we get back on our feet.”
Virgo looked around his apartment, which barely had enough space for him, let alone two more adults. “Here? You want to stay here?”
“It won’t be for long,” Sagittarius promised. “Just a few weeks, tops.”
Virgo took a deep breath. The irony of the situation was not lost on him. Here he was, contemplating moving back in with his parents, and now they were asking to move in with him. He couldn’t help but let out a chuckle, shaking his head.
“What’s so funny?” Cancer asked, confused.
“Nothing,” Virgo replied, a smile tugging at his lips. “Just life’s funny sometimes.”
They spent the next hour rearranging the apartment to make space for an air mattress his parents had brought. The tight quarters led to a few bumped elbows and whispered curses, but eventually, they managed to set up a makeshift sleeping area.
Once settled, Virgo called Libra to explain the situation. She listened with a mix of sympathy and surprise.
“Wow,” Libra said when he finished. “That’s a lot to deal with. I’m here for you, okay?”
“Thanks, honey,” Virgo said. “I just hope this doesn’t turn into a bigger mess.”
“Why don’t we meet up tomorrow? I’d like to talk more in person,” Libra suggested.
“That sounds good,” Virgo agreed. “See you then.”
The next day, Virgo and Libra met at a cozy café near his apartment. Libra looked at him with concern as he recounted the previous evening’s events.
“So, they’re staying with you?” Libra asked, stirring her coffee.
“Yep,” Virgo said, running a hand through his hair. “For a few weeks. I just hope it won’t be too awkward.”
Libra smiled sympathetically. “It sounds like you’re handling it well, though.”
“Trying to,” Virgo said with a wry grin. “It’s just… not the situation I envisioned.”
They spent the rest of the day talking and laughing, with Libra providing much-needed comfort and advice. Virgo felt better, knowing he had her support.
Back at the apartment, things were gradually becoming more bearable. Sagittarius and Cancer had taken to exploring the city, and Virgo found their presence a little less overwhelming with each passing day. Libra visited often, helping to ease the tension and providing a buffer between Virgo and his parents.
One morning, Virgo woke up to find his dad in the kitchen, attempting to make pancakes.
“Morning,” Sagittarius said cheerfully, flipping a pancake that landed half in and half out of the pan.
“Morning,” Virgo replied, stifling a laugh. “Need some help?”
“Wouldn’t say no,” Sagittarius admitted, watching as Virgo expertly took over, making perfectly round pancakes.
“You always were better at this than me,” Sagittarius said, shaking his head.
“Years of practice,” Virgo replied with a smirk. “Had to learn to cook for myself when I moved out, remember?”
“Hard to forget,” Sagittarius said with a chuckle. “You called us every other day asking for recipes.”
As they finished up breakfast, Cancer emerged from the makeshift bedroom, rubbing her eyes. “Something smells good.”
“Pancakes,” Virgo said, setting a plate in front of her. “Dad’s special recipe.”
Cancer took a bite and grimaced playfully. “Ah, yes. The infamous pancake disaster of ’95. How could I forget?”
“Hey, they’re not that bad!” Sagittarius protested, though he couldn’t help but laugh along.
Despite the tight quarters and the stress of job hunting, there were moments of levity and togetherness that Virgo hadn’t experienced in a long time. They shared stories, laughed at old jokes, and even had a mini dance party one evening when they found an old CD of ’80s hits.
One afternoon, while Virgo was out for an interview, Sagittarius and Cancer decided to surprise him by cleaning the apartment and preparing a nice dinner. Libra stopped by to lend a hand, and the atmosphere was unexpectedly cheerful.
“I feel bad, Sagittarius,” Cancer said, wiping down the kitchen counter. “We should be the ones helping him, not the other way around.”
“We are helping,” Sagittarius replied, giving her a reassuring smile. “We’re a family. We stick together, through thick and thin.”
When Virgo returned home that evening, he was greeted by the delicious smell of roasted chicken and vegetables. Libra was there too, setting the table with a warm smile.
“Wow, what’s the occasion?” Virgo asked, dropping his bag by the door.
“No occasion,” Cancer said, pulling him into a hug. “Just wanted to do something nice for you.”
Libra grinned, serving the food. “I just helped out a bit. I think Sagittarius’ cooking is finally improving!”
As they sat down to eat, Virgo couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. Despite the circumstances, they were making the best of it.
Over the next few weeks, things slowly began to improve. Cancer found a part-time job at a local bookstore, and Sagittarius started doing freelance carpentry work. Virgo, too, managed to land a new job, one that promised stability and growth.
One evening, as they sat around the table enjoying dinner, Sagittarius raised his glass. “To family,” he said, his voice filled with emotion. “No matter where we are, as long as we’re together, we’ll be okay.”
“To family,” Virgo and Cancer echoed, clinking their glasses.
Libra, sitting beside Virgo, smiled warmly. “And to unexpected guests who turn out to be the best company.”
As the weeks turned into months, they continued to support each other, facing challenges head-on with humor and resilience. The cramped apartment no longer felt like a burden but a place of warmth and love.
Eventually, Sagittarius and Cancer saved enough to move into a small house nearby, allowing them to be close to Virgo while still giving him his space. On the day they moved out, Virgo felt a mix of emotions—pride, relief, and a hint of sadness.
“You’ll visit, won’t you?” Cancer asked, hugging him tightly.
“Of course,” Virgo replied. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
Libra squeezed his hand, giving him a reassuring look. “And I’ll be around too.”
As they drove away, Virgo stood in the doorway of his now-quiet apartment, a smile playing on his lips. Life had thrown them all a curveball, but together, they had hit it out of the park.
He walked back inside, looking around at the now-empty air mattress space, and chuckled to himself. Sometimes, life’s unexpected guests bring the most unexpected joy.