The Woman in the Window

Sky apartments add another element to life.

Instead of a 2-dimensional landscape the vertical perspective adds another dynamic.

This wasn't the first time I'd seen her, but here I am locking eyes with the woman in the window. One busy 4 lane street separated us. Her, living her day to day in a condo. Me, playing tourist in a rental apartment across the way.

I see the door of her apartment open behind her and watch his lips move with a body posture suggesting frustration or anger. She doesn't care. She sips her red wine and looks at me. Casually, her arm gestures her wine glass to the side, other arm across her body as if to tell her partner, "What is it? What do you want to argue about now?"

It's an intimate moment and I can't help but sip my whiskey and watch from across the way, thoughts flooding in trying to fill the gaps in her story. I imagine he was a mistake.

It's the next morning and I'm up early writing. Trying to find inspiration for another cookie cutter article, I look over out the window and see her in bed. She's laying there, on her phone, her short dark hair tucked behind her ear. I can see the phone light her face and she's smiling.

Maybe she's messaging a friend.

Maybe she's watching cute cat videos.

The bathroom door opens, her partner walking towards the bed running a bath towel over his head. He moves in behind her, and she just lays there as if it's just another day. Except this time, she sees me. She knows I'm watching.

I close the blinds and get back to my work. I realize an hour has passed and I have nothing new written. I walk to the kitchen ready to pour some whiskey but decide against it.

Grabbing my jacket, I decide on coffee instead. As the elevator goes down, I picture her doing the same. Images of her leaving her apartment as I leave my hotel. Perhaps we walk in unison on opposite sidewalks.