The knock comes again.
"Miss Ellis? We need to discuss the notice."
Ana's expression shifts.
She doesn't understand yet, but she knows this is bad.
Ellie forces herself to stand.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSLdVZlkT0
Her legs wobble.
"I'll... I'll get it."
Ana rises too, instinctively moving closer — not crowding, just there.
Ellie opens the door a crack.
The landlord stands there with a clipboard and a tired expression.
"Evening. I just wanted to confirm you received the eviction notice and remind you about the move‑out date. We'll need the keys by—"
Ellie flinches like every word is a blow.
Ana hears it.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInS2Nzf62A
All of it.
Her eyes flick to the counter —11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeOgnOzM6Y
to the crumpled paper half‑hidden under the mail —11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59zmwNg1dS
and everything clicks.
The landlord continues talking, but Ana steps forward, calm and steady.
"She'll call you tomorrow."
The landlord blinks, thrown off by the quiet authority in her voice.
"Uh... sure. Tomorrow, then."
He leaves.
Ellie closes the door slowly, like she's afraid it'll shatter if she lets go.
She turns around.
Ana is standing there, holding the eviction notice she picked up from the counter.
Not angry.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjozMXlTPU
Not disappointed.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrt0FDXKv9
Just... soft.
"Ellie."
Ellie's face crumples.
"I didn't want you to know."
Ana steps closer — slow, gentle, giving Ellie every chance to pull away.
She doesn't.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Ellie's voice breaks.
"Because I didn't want to be a burden."
Ana's expression shifts — a tiny, aching hurt that someone she loves thinks that about herself.
She reaches out and takes Ellie's shaking hands.
"You're not a burden. Not to me."
Ellie's breath catches.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerIpAJSDnj
Her eyes fill.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXsT7Lt4VX
She tries to hold it in.
Ana pulls her into a hug — not dramatic, not crushing, just warm and certain.
Ellie collapses into her, exhausted.
"You're not alone. I've got you."
Pluto rubs against Ellie's leg like he's part of the promise.
Ellie finally lets herself cry — quiet, trembling, safe.
***
Sunlight filters through the blinds.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMwuW4aL3v
Ellie sits on the floor surrounded by half‑packed boxes, looking small and tired but a little steadier than last night.
Ana is beside her, folding clothes with military precision.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqffjKeLnVE
Pluto is inside a box he absolutely should not be in.
A knock at the door.
Ellie tenses — but Ana stands first.
"It's them."
She opens the door.
Zadie bursts in like a confetti cannon.
"GOOD MORNING, EVICTED PRINCESS!"
"Zadie."
"Sorry. Good morning, temporarily displaced queen."
Ruth follows, carrying a stack of neatly labeled boxes.
"We brought supplies. And breakfast. And emotional support."
She hands Ellie a muffin like it's a peace offering.
Ellie tries to smile.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeBtX5hI2V
It wobbles, but it's real.
Zadie immediately starts packing the wrong things.
"Do you need this? What about this? What even is this?"
"That's a lamp."
"Okay but like... spiritually?"
Ana takes the lamp from her.
"Please stop touching things."
Ruth is labeling boxes like a general preparing for war.
"Clothes. Books. Art supplies. Zadie's chaos."
"HEY."
"You know what you did, Zadie."
Ellie watches them — the chaos, the warmth, the way they fill the room without asking for anything in return — and something in her chest loosens.
Ana stands beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"You ready?"
Ellie nods — small, scared, but ready.
"Yeah. I... I think so."
Zadie throws an arm around her.
"We're gonna make your new room so cute you're gonna cry."
"I'm already crying."
"Perfect! You're ahead of schedule!"
Ruth squeezes Ellie's hand.
"You're coming home with us now. That's all that matters."
Ellie swallows hard, overwhelmed.
"Thank you. All of you."
Ana meets her eyes — steady, warm, certain.
"You're family."
Ellie's breath catches.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDEzvWCETN
She blinks back tears.
***
Zadie carries a box labeled "Fragile" upside‑down.
Ana fixes it while muttering.
Ruth unlocks the apartment door.
Ellie steps inside Ana and Zadie's place with her first box.
Pluto trots in like he owns the place.
Zadie spreads her arms wide.
"WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME!"
Ana smiles.
"Your room is down the hall. We cleaned it."
"Zadie tried to paint the walls. I stopped her."
"It would've been cute!"
Ellie stands in the doorway, taking it all in — the plants, the mismatched pillows, the warmth, the noise, the love.
She exhales.
For the first time all episode, she looks... safe.
"...things could be worse."
Pluto meows like he agrees.
Author's Note:11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmFpzOtQEm
Thank you for reading the first episode! Ellie's story starts small — a bad morning, a declined card, a secret she's too scared to say out loud — but that's how real change usually begins. She's messy, overwhelmed, and convinced she's a burden... and she's wrong. This is a story about being held when you don't know how to ask for help, about found family stepping in before you fall apart, and about learning that you don't have to fix everything alone. I hope you felt a little warmth in this chaos. There's so much more to come.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFRDxxWmdl
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6whHCm8wAe
and then Add to home screen.