It's not a bustling thoroughfare, but more of a lane, edged with stone walls softened by moss and time. The air here is quieter, holding the whispers of the Welsh hills. Sunlight filters through the leaves of ancient trees that arch over the road, dappling the path in shifting patterns of light and shadow.
The houses that line the street are not uniform or grand, but each possesses its own character. Some are cozy cottages with brightly painted doors and window boxes overflowing with cheerful flowers. Others are older, their stone facades weathered by coastal winds and Welsh rain, hinting at tales of resilience and enduring charm.
I lived in a small house among about 10 houses. I lived alone at the age of 55 having retired about 10 years ago. I made my money from working as a teacher for most of that time but then investing heavily in the various global assets and businesses and ultimately getting lucky and having enough to retire early. I spent a lot of my time travelling on holiday and going on hikes and doing some small community work. My neighbour was a lady a bit older than me and she had a 19 year old daughter who had who worked at the hospital in the next town. I used to see her getting the bus in the morning and the bottom of her uniform would show below her coat. From the colour I guessed she was some sort of health care assistant or porter or something.
Natasha's most immediately captivating feature is her eyes, a vibrant, expressive hazel, constantly shifting with flecks of gold and green that catch the light. They are framed by naturally dark, finely arched eyebrows that accentuate their shape and lend her gaze an intelligent, thoughtful quality. Her eyelashes are thick and dark, adding depth and allure to her already mesmerizing eyes.
Natasha's face is a delicate oval, with high cheekbones that give her a sculpted, elegant appearance. Her nose is petite and straight, perfectly proportioned to her other features. Her lips are full and naturally rosy, with a beautifully defined cupid's bow. When she smiles, which she does often and with genuine warmth, they widen to reveal even, white teeth and create endearing crinkles at the corners of her eyes.
Her skin is fair with warm undertones, possessing a natural luminosity that suggests youth and vitality. It appears smooth and soft, like porcelain, with a healthy flush to her cheeks. You can imagine it would feel velvety to the touch.
Natasha's hair is a cascade of rich, dark brown waves, almost black in some lights, with subtle auburn highlights that become more apparent when sunlight catches them. It's thick and lustrous, falling to just below her shoulders, and she often wears it loose, allowing it to frame her face and move freely as she does.
Natasha's breasts are in perfect proportion to her slender yet curvaceous frame. They are moderately sized, appearing full and rounded, with a natural perkiness that is characteristic of youth. They sit high on her chest, creating a pleasing silhouette. The curve of her breasts is gentle and feminine, flowing smoothly from her collarbone to her defined waist.
One morning it was raining hard and I made a quick dash to the car. I was on my way to go shopping and wanted to beat the crowd. I drove out of the street and saw Natasha waiting in the rain. She was going to get drenched in the rain waiting for the bus. I pulled over and told her to jump in. She hesitated a little because I was slightly anti social most days. She got in and I told her to take her wet coat off. I turned on the heated seats for her. She thanked me repeatedly and I told her she needed a car in this weather. She said she wanted one but couldn't afford it. She asked me how I was able to not work and was I a mega rich finance guy from the city who earned loads. It shocked her to learn I wasa teacher and that I learnt about money myself in order to retire. I said she could learn to ajd be retired by 30 if she wanted to. She laughed and said on ger wage it was impossible. I said I could teach her to do it in no time. She laughed again and I said I was serious, I would mentor her to gain financial freedom if she wanted after she finished work.
"As lovely as you look in that uniform, do you want to be in that forever?" I asked. She told me she did not and the thought of that was soul destroying. It was my turn to laugh and I told her to bring her pay slip with her and come over after work. I dropped her off at the hospital and went off with my day.
It was later that day when I heard my door bell ring and I answered it to Natasha. It was clear that it had been raining because she was soaked. I invited her in and made her a coffee. I invited her to take her coat off and place it on the radiator. I could see she was still cold so I took her to the living room where I started a fire in the fire place.
I sat opposite her and asked her what she wanted from this mentoring. She didn't answer me straight away but when she did it was confident "I don't want to be here working at my mums age, I want to live life". That was a perfect answer for me to hear. Because this was something I could teach. She did as I had asked and showed me her pay slips and her bank account. I showed her how and where to cut spending to generate some savings. I told her to do some sort of over time or extra shifts in another department which she was able to do. I told her to come back to be in a months time with an improved situation and I gave her my number if she needed me. Over the weeks I took her to work and she told me about herself and how her dad had died when she was young and that her boyfriend worked as a brick layer for a housing contractor.
Over the months Natasha did amazing at saving and cutting costs. It was now time to move on to making some money. I explained how now it was time to build that side income with that money. "You're young and you have time to take a lot of risk unlike me" I said.
"You're young and you have time to take a lot of risk unlike me," I said, gesturing with my hands. "You can afford to invest in things that might have higher potential returns but also a higher chance of failure. For someone my age..." I trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.
Natasha tilted her head, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "Someone your age?" she echoed, a slight laugh bubbling up. "You're not old! You're only... what, in your fifties?"
I chuckled. "Only in my fifties. That's practically ancient in investment terms, my dear. I'm at the stage where preserving what I have is more important than chasing high-growth unicorns."
She laughed again, a bright, genuine sound that filled the room. "You don't act ancient! Honestly, when you were telling me about all those adventures you used to go on, hiking and travelling all over, you sounded like you were my age, if not younger!"
I smiled, a warmth spreading through me at her words. "Well, I appreciate the compliment. But the truth is, my risk appetite has definitely shrunk over the years. You, on the other hand, have decades ahead of you. You can afford to experiment a bit more, learn from any mistakes, and still have plenty of time to recover and grow your wealth."
Natasha's expression softened, and she looked at me with a newfound depth in her hazel eyes. "You know," she said quietly, "I've been thinking a lot lately. About everything you've shown me. And... I just wanted to say thank you. Properly thank you."
