Hupo and his companions returned to the Cheap Inn.

It was dimly lit inside. The only lighting came from candles on the tables. Like before, there was no one standing behind the front desk. The few tables inside were filled with noisy patrons, who laughed and drank. Gus, the owner, was sitting at a table full of people, guzzling down a bottle of wine. He plopped down the bottle on the table and wiped away the wine dripping down his mouth.

“Welcome back! I’ve been wondering when you guys would return.” He approached Hupo.

Hupo’s opinion of the inn went up. The establishment was old and dirty, but at least the man running it was welcoming.

“Twenty copper coins for two rooms - is that deal still on the table?”

“I see you’ve still got a beauty with you.” Gus winked at Alana. “So yes, you still get the discounted rate.”

“Good. We’ll take two rooms then.” Hupo took money from his pouch and handed it to Gus.

Gus counted the money. “Perfect. Come with me.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

He led them up flight of creaky stairs to a door on the second floor.

“This room and the one across from it are yours.” Reaching in his pockets, he pulled out to two keys. “Here are the keys. See you in the morning.”

Hupo thanked Gus and entered the room. It reeked of alcohol inside. He wanted to let fresh air inside, but there were no windows. A lantern hanging from the ceiling was the only source of light. The only furniture was a stained wooden bed. Dust and crumbs littered the gritty floor.

The quality of the room was in line with his expectations. However, he couldn’t help but feel a bit sad. In his mind, he compared the five-star hotel rooms that he used to stay at to this one. The difference was like night and day.

He lowered his head and clutched his fists.

I worked so hard to build my wealth. Now it’s all gone.

Alana patted his shoulder.

He appreciated the gesture. It was something that only someone who knew him well would do. When their eyes met, he could see that she understood his disappointment. She had always been sensitive to his feelings, so he wasn’t surprised at how quickly she picked up on them.

Coco smiled and spread her arms out wide. “This room is so spacious. It’s almost as roomy as my home.”

Her positivity never failed to amaze him. She saw the upside of their situation - something that he was unable to do. How could he, a former CEO with decades of life experience, fail to grasp such a simple idea - that he may not be able to improve his current situation, but he could always change how he perceived it. By thinking only negative thoughts, he inadvertently chose to be sad.

A smile spread across his face. “You’re right, this room isn’t half bad.”