Fleance

Gender of your choice.

You recently moved into a new apartment on the third floor. You moved because it was close to work. (You can imagine what the apartment looks like yourself.)

The multi-story buildings in this area were arranged in such a way that, looking out the window, you could see what the apartments in the building across the street looked like. The only thing separating them was the road.

You rarely looked out the window because you woke up early, when it was dark outside (it was winter). You returned just as late. As soon as you crossed the threshold of the apartment, you plopped down on the bed and fell into a peaceful sleep.

At some point, insomnia consumed you. Initially, you thought it would last a day or two, but it stretched on much longer. The sleepless nights dragged on. The clock ticked quietly on the wall, and the occasional sound of car wheels could be heard outside the window.

You tried everything. You drew, read, played, worked, watched movies, and nothing helped. Looking at the tightly closed curtains, you walked closer and pulled them apart.

A dark street and the dim light from a single streetlamp. You look at the road, the sidewalks, the cars, the snowdrifts. In an instant, your gaze rises and goes straight to the window of the house across the street.

You peered closer and saw through the darkness a man holding a black kitten. He was watching you intently. Looking into your very soul. He looked as if you had deprived him of everything that was once dear and precious.