The Windows Of Their Souls
Story
by Weird Vision
The night was falling silently over the city. The lights were
dim but it wasn't completely dark inside the room. There was another
block of flats fifty meters away and the lights coming from its windows
were more than enough for her to find her way around the apartment.
She crossed the room and pulled an armchair in front of the living room's window. The curtains weren't pulled but since there were no lights on
nobody could look inside, nobody knew she was watching.
She poured herself a drink and sat in the armchair where she shifted
her legs a couple of times looking for a more comfortable position. She
wasn't drinking on regular basis but after a long but successful day at
the office she really felt like celebrating.
The cat jumped in her lap asking for attention and she scratched her
head behind her ears. This didn't stop the cat from sticking her claws in her
arm. It wasn't a mean gesture and it didn't hurt her. She was just
letting her know that she didn't appreciate being left alone for almost all
day.
Yes, I know, baby, she said when the cat propped her front legs on
her chest and rubbed her front against her cheek purring at her full
potential. Tomorrow I'll be coming home early and we will watch some
cartoons, she promised.
It was a weird cat who liked to watch cartoons, loved the cabbage salad
and hated the chips. And although she had her arms always full of
scratches because of her, she still loved that cat.
She stared outside the huge window. The first thing she had done when
she bought the apartment had been to tear down the wall and replace the
entire upper part with glass. The workers had thought that she was mad
or maybe an exhibitionist but she loved the view during the night and
all the light that was coming in during the day.
Someone turned on the light in an apartment two floors above hers in
the building in front. He was home. He didn't usually pull the drapes
from the living room, only the one from the bedroom, but she wasn't
interested in what happened there.
He walked around the living room and she noticed by the way he was
holding his head and his shoulders that he was tired. It was too far for
her to clearly see his face and she was proud that she hadn't gone with
her obsession that far and hadn't bought a binocular, but she just knew
it. She knew him pretty well after more than two months of continuously
watching him.
It was only an incident how that whole thing had started. One afternoon
she had fallen asleep on the couch in the living room and when she had
woken up it was already dark outside. She was laying down thinking that
she could go to bed just as well when she had glanced through the
window and seen him.
She had watched him for hours. She had often wondered what was so
interesting about him. Of course, he was a good looking man, with a very
active life, she had found out eventually who he was without even looking,
she had seen him on TV once, but it wasn't only that. What intrigued
her the most was how lonely he seemed to be. It wasn't that he had no
friends cause he had lots of them, even more than her and she was known as
a people person in her circle of friends.
His apartment was constantly visited by one person or another and
sometimes he was having wild parties that were lasting until the early hours
of the morning, but in spite of that he had his moments when he was
looking tremendously alone, just like her. Most of the times she didn't mind
being alone, she needed that time just for herself away from the rest
of the world and all the people, but he didn't seem to handle the solitude too well.
He was always on the run and sometimes had to leave town for days or
even weeks during which she was missing him terribly, but once returned
home he was still by himself, accompanied only by his dog. There were
exceptions, like the times when he was bringing home some girl, always a
different one, but she didn't care much for those episodes and she
refused to watch when that was happening because it was making her feel
weird inside. She couldn't really explain it and she knew it was very
silly to feel jealous but she couldn't help it either. She was a lost case.
That night wasn't a regular one. She waited for him to finish his daily
routine and settle on the couch to watch TV, but all the waiting was in
vain. Once he would do that she could just as well pull the curtains
and turn to watch TV herself since she knew that nothing interesting
would happen, he would just sit on the couch and switch channels for
hours. Not tonight though.
He spent a long time on the phone and by his nervous gestures she knew
he wasn't happy at all with the way the conversation was going. He was
really having a bad day.
She watched him moving from one place to another around the living room
like he couldn't find his place. Once he stopped to look outside the
window and she had the impression that he was staring right at her. Of
course it was all in her head, he couldn't know she was there, not
really. She chuckled into the dark and reached for her glass that she had put
on the floor near her armchair. Maybe she needed something stronger.
Meanwhile he opened the bar and reached for a bottle only to find it
empty. Yes, he had brought a friend the other night to help him finish
it, she remembered. He stared pensively at the bottle, even turned it
upside down but no drop stained the carpet. Then he turned towards the
window once again.
She took a sip of her drink waiting for what would happen next and she
froze with the glass still in her hand when she saw what he did. He
raised the bottle and pointed at it with his finger like he was showing it
to someone, but there was no one who he could have showed it to.
That drink was too strong, she frowned and closed her eyes for a
second. Now she was seeing things. When she opened her eyes again he was
gone. She stared disconcerted at the empty room. He had left leaving the
lights on. The dog was laying on the couch with his head turned towards
the inside of the apartment staring at some point where the entrance
door must have been.
She sighed and put down the glass. She really had to stop doing that,
it wasn't healthy. But as long as she wasn't bothering anybody...
The doorbell rang making her jump off the armchair. She went to open
hoping it was a friend, someone she could talk to. All of the sudden she
didn't want to spend the night alone anymore. Well, it wasn't a friend
but it wasn't exactly a stranger either.
Hi! Alexei told her with a shy smile.
She stared at him in disbelief. He couldn't be there at her door
talking to her! That drink must have been really strong.
Wait just one minute... she mumbled and went to the bathroom leaving
him in the doorway.
She splashed some cold water over her face and promised herself that
she would give up drinking, but when she returned he was still there.
Hi, she said frowning a little, but he didn't miss the smile.
I came to help you finish that bottle that you're fighting for three
weeks now, he told her and her jaw dropped. Can I come in? he asked
her amused.
She moved away to let him pass unable to speak. He entered the living
room and she quickly turned on the light. He looked around like he
already knew the place and grinned at the sight of the armchair facing the
window. She blushed and lowered her eyes. Great, he must think she's a
real psycho!
We have never been properly introduced, he turned to her and smiled.
I'm Alexei, he told her raising his hand.
And I'm... embarrassed! she chuckled but shook his hand.
He laughed and walked to the armchair. The cat glared at him and for a
moment looked like she was just about to attack him, but then changed
her mind and jumped off the armchair.
I'm sorry, she doesn't seem to like you, she chuckled.
There was nothing to laugh about but she couldn't believe he was there
in her living room. It was like a dream. Hey, maybe that's what it was!
Of course she doesn't. It's because I have a dog! he grinned.
He sat on the armchair and laid back.
This is a very nice view that you have here! he told her looking
outside the window. Could you turn off the light, please? he asked her.
She glared at him but he had his back turned to her and couldn't see
it, so she just did what he had asked her. Then she silently crossed the
living room and stopped behind him with her hands propped on the back
of the armchair. He must have felt her presence cause he looked back
and raised his arm to place a hand on top of hers.
Come here, he asked her in a whisper.
It was a big armchair but since it wasn't designed for two people to sit
in it she had to squeeze between him and the armchair's arm. She stood
still with her back rigid and barely daring to breathe. He didn't
seem to be uncomfortable with that unusual situation and bent on the other
side to reach for her glass. He took a sip but made a grimace.
This is not good! he muttered. I'll bring you something better next
time, he promised and placed an arm around her shoulders deliberately
ignoring how tensed her back was.
Next time? She didn't know what to believe anymore. She had thought
that she was the crazy one but he didn't seem to be too sane either. They
sat like that for a while and he felt her relaxing little by little. He
smiled when she gave up with a sigh and laid back resting her head on
the top of the armchair.
Can I ask you something? she ventured.
Sure, he told her turning to look at her.
She could see his eyes sparkling under the dim light.
How did you know I was here? she asked him and he laughed.
You can't see it from here but there's a street light bulb over the
corner of that building at the left and part of its light is reaching
your window, he explained.
So everybody can see inside? she wondered.
No, I don't think so. There's only one place in my living room from
where I can see you and the angle is very uncomfortable, he chuckled. My
neck still hurts in the morning sometimes.
How long have you been spying on me? she muttered although she knew
she had no right to be upset since she had been doing it too.
Well, you've been spying on me too, but there's no need to argue on
that, he teased her. It must be like three months now... since you have
moved in, he admitted with a grin.
She stared at him with her eyes wide open and then started to laugh.
She was worrying for her health of mind but he was even crazier than
she was!
I was so worried when you passed out that day, he remembered.
You called the ambulance? she asked him but she already knew the
answer.
Yes, he nodded and I'm glad I did. You spent a whole week in the
hospital...
Actually... I spent that week at the beach, she chuckled. The doctor
said I was exhausted and ordered some rest.
It was his turn to stare at her.
Well, you should have put on a big sign... left on holiday or
something... so I wouldn't worry so much... he muttered and she laughed.
They looked at each other smiling.
You must think that I am really crazy, she said biting her lower lip.
No... just lonely... like me, he whispered.
He pulled her closer and she cuddled near him and rested her head on
his shoulder. And for some weird reason that was beyond her
comprehension, it felt right.
The Windows Of Their Souls© COPYRIGHT 2005 Weird Vision. Reproduction prohibited without permission from the author. 06/21/05
