The Empty Apartment
老李住在三楼，他楼下的邻居姓林。
Old-Li live at three-floor, his down-floor (POSS) neighbor surnamed Lin.
Old Li lived on the third floor; his downstairs neighbor was a Ms. Lin.
林女士平时很安静，每天准时上下班。
Ms. Lin usually very quiet, every-day on-time up-down-work.
Ms. Lin was usually quiet and kept regular hours.
三个星期以来，老李一次也没看见她。
Three (M) week since, Old-Li one time also not see her.
For three weeks now, Old Li had not seen her even once.
但是每天晚上，她家的灯都会亮。
But every-day evening, her home (POSS) light all will bright.
Yet every evening, the lights in her apartment came on.
灯亮到十一点，然后准时关掉。
Light bright until eleven o'clock, then on-time close-off.
They stayed on until eleven, then went out right on time.
老李觉得有点奇怪。
Old-Li feel a-bit strange.
Old Li thought it was a little strange.
他下楼的时候，看见信箱满满的。
He down-floor (POSS) time, see letter-box full-full (POSS).
Going downstairs, he noticed her mailbox was stuffed full.
信和报纸都快放不下了。
Letter and newspaper all almost place-not-down (PERF).
There was barely room for another letter.
他先敲门，没有人答应。
He first knock door, not-have person answer.
He knocked first; no one answered.
他又打电话，没有人接。
He again make call, not-have person receive.
He tried calling, but no one picked up.
“也许出事了。”老李对自己说。
"Perhaps occur-matter (PERF)." Old-Li toward self say.
“Maybe something’s happened,” Old Li said to himself.
他去找楼下的管理员老王。
He go find down-floor (POSS) manage-person Old-Wang.
He went to find Old Wang, the building manager.
老王听了，想了想说：“我们一起去看看。”
Old-Wang listen (PERF), think (PERF) think say: "We together go look-look."
Old Wang thought for a moment. “Let’s go take a look together.”
老王用钥匙开了门。
Old-Wang use key open (PERF) door.
Old Wang opened the door with the master key.
房间里很干净，但是有些奇怪。
Room inside very clean, but have-some strange.
The apartment was tidy, but somehow off.
桌子上有半杯茶，还有一本打开的书。
Desk top have half cup tea, also have one (M) open (POSS) book.
On the table sat a half-finished cup of tea and an open book.
厨房里有几个没洗的盘子。
Kitchen inside have several (M) not-wash (POSS) plate.
In the kitchen were a few unwashed dishes.
电视开着，正在放新闻。
TV open (CONT), exactly-at play news.
The TV was on, playing the news.
可是房间里一个人也没有。
But room inside one (M) person also not-have.
But there wasn’t a single person inside.
老李心里更担心了。
Old-Li heart inside more worry (PERF).
Old Li grew more worried.
就在这时，他的电话响了。
Exactly at this time, his (POSS) phone ring (PERF).
Just then, his phone rang.
是林女士打来的。
Is Ms. Lin make-come (POSS).
It was Ms. Lin calling.
“老李，对不起，我忘了告诉你。”
"Old-Li, sorry, I forget (PERF) tell you."
“Old Li, I’m so sorry — I forgot to tell you.”
“我朋友病了，我去外地照顾她，已经住了三个星期医院。”
"My friend sick (PERF), I go out-place care-look her, already stay (PERF) three (M) week hospital."
“A friend of mine got sick. I’ve been at her hospital in another city for three weeks now.”
“家里的灯是按时间开关的，我忘了取消。”
"Home inside (POSS) light is by time open-close (POSS), I forget (PERF) cancel."
“The lights are on a timer at home — I forgot to switch it off.”
“电视也是。出门前我开了，后来一直忘记。”
"TV also is. Out-door before I open (PERF), later continuously forget-remember."
“The TV too. I left it on when I rushed out and never thought about it.”
老李笑了，心里终于放心了。
Old-Li laugh (PERF), heart inside finally put-heart (PERF).
Old Li laughed; the worry finally lifted from his chest.
“你回来的时候，我请你喝杯新茶。”他说。
"You return come (POSS) time, I invite you drink cup new tea." He say.
“When you get back, I’ll treat you to a fresh cup of tea,” he said.