This property has been condemned due to structural hazards and will be demolished by order of the Southern Nova Scotia Building Department.
All persons are prohibited from entering or occupying this structure.
Posted By: SNSBD
It’s the demolition date at the bottom that shocks me to my core.
Of all the days they could have chosen, they picked this one.
Demolition Scheduled:October 23, 2025
We’re officially out of time. It’s happening.
I whip open the door, entering back into 1993 with a familiar shock, and run up the stairs to find Dylan right where I left him, on the couch with a book in his lap.
“Luce.” He looks up at me, eyebrows knit together, clearly confused why I’m back and out of breath from getting to him so quickly.
“There’s a notice. On the door,” I blurt out in between gasps of air. He puts the book down and comes to a stand as I make it to him in the living room.
“Okay, babe. It’s okay, just breathe. What’s the notice?”
I try to steady myself to calm my racing heart. “They’re going to tear the lighthouse down, Dylan. On the twenty-third. It’s condemned.”
His eyes widen momentarily before they relax back down, and he pulls me into his arms, wrapping me in a tight hug. Here we are again, him calmingmedown rather than the other way around. “We’ve got our plan, Luce. Did they say when they were going to demolish it?”
I think back to the note, scanning it in my mind for everything it said. “No. There wasn’t a time on it. Only a date. I can try to find out, though. I’m sure there’s a number I can call or someone I can email to get more information.”
“Okay, let’s make that the first step. See if we canfind out the time, and if we have to adjust our plan, we will.” He looks me square in the eyes. “This doesn’t change anything, Lucy. We’re going to make this work.”
“I love you,” is all I say as I revel in the feeling of his solid arms around me. I breathe in his fresh, citrusy scent once more before pulling away. “That’ll be my job this week. I’ll try my best.”
“That’s all we can do,” he says as he runs his thumb along the back of my hand. “Thanks for coming back to tell me. I’ll take any extra moments I can with you.”
We say our goodbyes for a second time, and then I make my way home in the dark, still baffled that of all the days to demolish this lighthouse, they chose the one that matters the most.
At least it wasn’t any earlier.
I shudder at the thought as I follow the winding road back home.
To say that I have stress-called the number for the SNSBD over twenty times would not be an exaggeration. They have either clocked my number and are now refusing to pick up just to spite me, or they are far too busy to even hear their phone ring. I was able to find their email and phone number online and have already reached out, trying to find out why they are doing this and what time the work is planned for.
So far, no one has gotten back to me.
It’s Tuesday, and I’m distracted during my shift at Pleasant Coffee. I have practically bitten my nails down to the quick, and almost every order that’s come my way, I’ve managed to mess up in some shape or form.
“What’s gotten into you?” Sarah asks me as she smoothsout her French braid, ensuring no strands fall loose. “I’m ready to send you to the back for restocking.”
“Honestly, that might be best,” I cautiously admit, my head hanging low. “Sorry, Sarah. I’ve got some, um, family stuff going on, and I’m having trouble keeping my head straight.”
I swear, for the quickest of seconds, Sarah looks at me with empathy before curling her mouth down and pointing to the back door. “Restock the beans, and then come find me.” What a gift she’s just given me. With that, she turns on her heel and heads over to tidy up the front of the cafe.
“Thank god,” I mutter under my breath as I turn around and pop into the back, happy to be away from customers for the foreseeable future.
I finish up the rest of my shift back there, and then once I get home, I grab a bottle of red wine and make a bowl of popcorn, falling onto the couch and wrapping myself up in my soft quilt.
After I’ve scarfed down half the bowl, my phone vibrates with an incoming text, and I flip it over to see who it is.
Priya: Hey you!! come down and let me up
