Neighbors

It's been so peaceful without tenants in unit 37. Something about that apartment always attracts such surly people. Loud, rude, unneighbourly. This used to be a community. Now it's more of a ghost inn. 

I liked going to the market first thing in the morning on Thursdays. That's when they deliver the fresh weekly stock, and all my favorite vendors know to save me their best batch. I didn't used to be able to afford this. Strange to think how now that I don't go to work, I am able to spend all this money. But, life is in the little things. In plump figs, rich greens and tomatoes that smell of being grown in sunny gardens. 

It's opportune that the school gave me paid leave just like they did with the teachers. I thought they would send me to work in the next county while the school was renovated. I guess funding was improving,

I cleaned up after dinner, freshened up and went to bed. Or rather, the couch. I've gotten used to sleeping on it after long shifts, having to waitress for a while after work. Ends required meeting for a time, and I would just crash in the living room. Nowadays, it's more comfortable than ever, like a warm cocoon, ready to wrap me up, safe and sound each night. I finally slept like a baby.

Then, there was a bark.

Suddenly, in the middle of the night. Loud, sharp barking of a dog. It sounded so close I thought he was right in the room with me. A cold chill ran throughout my body from how much it startled me. I felt my heart go cold. Must be what a surge of adrenaline feels like. I would have thought it would be a hot flash, but I felt frozen.

Listening more carefully, I realized it was coming from unit 37. I didn't see anybody move in. Why is there a dog? Am I hearing it wrong? Drowsiness was overtaking me again, once my body realized it wasn't in imminent danger. Maybe it's for the best, I thought, and layed back down to sleep.

It was a sunny August day, I've gone to feed the ducks at the park pond. It was only 10 am but the heat was already scorching. Right at the entrance of my old derelict looking building, I've come across them. Two strong men in white polo shirts, carrying boxes inside. Movers.

I didn't speak to my neighbours, or, they didn't speak to me, really. It's useless being friendly to faceless people, who look through you. Everyone has enough on their minds to care about anybody else, if they can help it. So, I don't know anybody here anymore, and I don't mind if it stays like that. At least there was no ruckus, nobody made problems, I can live with that. 

As I climbed the stairs to my fourth floor, I saw that my assumption was right. There were a few empty units that anybody could be moving into. Of course it had to be the unit 37, right next to me.

Then I heard it again, the piercing noise. Barking. Their door was open, the movers going in and out, diligently filling the space I presume, and my mind seemed to fill just the same. Who were these people? Will the dog bark now all the time, and disturb my peace?

A young woman, maybe late 20s, with wavy brown hair appeared, with the dog on a leash, instructing the movers how she’ll be back soon. She gave me a curt nod, and swooshed beside me. 

Alright, just the girl, maybe she’s a student, or just a young woman finding her feet on her own. If the dog keeps being loud, I'm sure she won't mind if I talk to her about it, it looked like a young dog, it could learn to behave.

In the afternoon, everything changed. He came home, too. The boyfriend. I should have supposed that she had a boyfriend, she was young and beautiful, why wouldn't she. Why he had to be insufferable, that I had no answer to.

Days that followed past in turmoil. I am aware it sounds like an exaggeration. They had the right to move in there, they had the right to make life noises, to be. I was the one who had to endure it.

I heard every step, every clink of the silverware, every bathroom visit, the tv, and the bedroom... And most of all, the arguments. I had the urge to go to the hardware store and ask to have my walls insulated. I think I could even afford it, but I kept thinking it would be too extreme. They were just a messy young couple, nobody is perfect. I just wish I didn't have to witness it. 

On top of everything, it was the dog.

If it wasn't for the dog I think I could have gotten used to the other noises. But the damn animal barked all day and all night. Not all the time, obviously. Just enough to constantly remind you he was there, that they were there. 

What bothered me the most is that nobody seemed to care, at all. As if nobody else in the entire 5 story building with over 30 units could hear him except me. Did nobody else wake up at 3 am each night when the damn thing shouted? That's how it sounded like, as if he was shouting at someone. Sometimes I had a feeling he was angry at the boyfriend, which is when I sympathised with the animal a bit. I, too, sometimes want to bark at the vile man. But who was he mad at in the middle of the night? When he barked at those times, it felt like he was angry at me. And i hated him for it.

It was a Thursday, I've just gotten back from my farmers market stroll. I never knew when they’d be home. They didn't seem to work a normal job, they'd be home at odd hours and then gone at even stranger ones. Did they even work at all? Who paid for everything? They never seemed to argue about money. 

I could hear shouting from the corridors, climbing the stairs. The smell of weed was forever permeating the inside of the building. I detested the smell, but it was simply one more thing I just had to accept and learn to live with since they moved in.

I've called the police 12 times in total so far. Loud music, partying, drugs, the dog. The police would come, they would get quiet and not answer the door. The police would leave. That was the extent of the law protection this country provided. Not that I put my faith in them, it was simply the only thing I could do. I tried ringing them, hoping to talk. He would curse at me through the door, and I would run back to my apartment. It was cowardly, at least that's how I felt when I did it. I just don't know what else to do. 

My entire existence was upended by them. They consumed me. My every waking moment, they made me think of themselves. They woke me up to remind me they were there. I had no escape, no peace.

And there’s always the dog. Sometimes I think he must feel the same way I do. He, too, is trapped with them. He can't leave, he can't even pee if they don't feel like getting up and taking him outside. One time I heard the boyfriend hit him. He must have done his business inside. I pitied him and I hated him all the same.

Today, the dial got turned up a notch. Maybe the pot of gold they've been living off of had run dry. Maybe she cheated. Maybe he had built enough frustration to take it out on her as well.

Plates were shattering as I quickly unlocked my door. I dumped my things in the kitchen, and without thinking, on instinct, went to call the police. That's what I was hurrying to do, without even realizing. As it was ringing, I could hear her cry and beg him to stop. Stuff was flying, hitting walls and probably hitting her, too. 

“911, what's your emergency?”

“Yes, hello, I’m calling about my neighbors.”

“Ah, ms Mizzero. Is it the dog again?”

“Excuse me?”

“You are ms Mizzero, at Fair Corner 11, correct?”

“Yes.”

“I have you on record here, you have issues with your neighbors. So I only asked if it was the dog again?”

“Isn't that neat? No, it is not the dog. Well, it's the human dog, that bastard of hers. He’s beating her, I can hear it through the wall, he's hurting her. There's stuff flying all—”

“Alright, ma’am. We’ll send someone over to check on the situation.”

“There is nothing to check, you need to hurry! He's hurting her, he could kill her! Do you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am, I've already told you, I've sent someone over. Just sit tight and try not to worry.” 

He hung up the phone.

Besides a few doors opening to snoop, and promptly closing when their suspicions were confirmed, nobody did anything. He continued to scream and hit her, she continued to sob and mumble. Was she explaining herself? Begging? Soothing him? I couldn’t tell, not by her words at least. I just knew.

I didn't even realize I'd been sitting at my dining table, clutching the phone, listening, that three hours went by. I got startled from my stupor by the doorbell outside, and I glanced at the clock, noticing the time. That's how long it took them. They were at their door. I wonder what they'll do, if he doesn't open the door. Will they just walk away like they did all the other times?

The lock clicked a few times, and I could hear her voice. I knew it to be hoarse, but to a stranger, she sounded normal, chirpy even.

“Sorry to bother you, miss. We had a complaint from a neighbour. They heard some shouting. It seemed like they were worried for your safety. Is everything alright?” 

“Really? Oh my, well... I'm fine, I don't know what it could be... Oh my god! Yes! Oh no! I feel so bad! It's probably the dog! My boyfriend came home, he was away for a few days, and Loki got a little too excited, he's been jumping all over the place.”

“So the dog was making the noise?” 

“Yes, oh my God, yes! I just remembered, he knocked over this vase, right when Danny came home. Right babe?”

Danny. I've never heard his name before. Doesn't suit him. He looked more like a Brad, or Kyle.

“Hello. I thought it was the take out. What's happening?” I heard him ask the officer.

“We’re just here to make sure everyone is alright here, there were some noise complaints.” 

“Oh my god, again? Some people really don't have a life of their own, do they?”

They all chuckled. The cop. Danny. The girl that was sobbing all afternoon. All laughing. At me.

“Well, I can see there's no problem here. Just try to keep the noise down at night, and don't let us spoil your afternoon. Have a good one guys!”

She lied. 

What hurt the most was the familiarity of it. I remember lying too. It seemed that, to the world, my lies were more believable than the truth. She was reminding me I’m not the only one. 

They seemed to be more quiet after that. He left and came back late. She only went out briefly, to walk the dog.

The next day, I woke up with the intense urge to go to the park. I needed to see the pond. I dreamt of the water, the peaceful green vastness, my ducks. Do they remember me? I bet they would like anybody who brings seeds and lettuce, not just bread. I had to go to them. 

Gathering my things, I went to leave, locking up my door. She just got out, too, at the same time. Our eyes locked, she looked swiftly away, but not soon enough. I saw the bruise, covered by a thick layer of foundation. It was so ridiculously obvious, it made me think, did people really not see? Or, did the covering up signal to them, it's ok, I want to you to not care, I want you to not ask me about it. Look away. 

I couldn't look away, because I now knew. I was sure that cop new, too.

“Hello.”

“Oh, hi,” she answered reluctantly.

“Off for a walk?”

“Yes. Sorry, by the way. Loki barks at night, I know. I can't get him to be quiet. He notices the pigeons sleeping on the ledges of windows and goes bonkers.”

Yes, we can talk about the dog, but we can't talk about the man.

“I’m going to the pond, I feed the ducks sometimes. Would you like to come with me?”

“Oh, that’s so sweet. But no, sadly, as I said, Loki only sees birds as snacks.” She looked like a girl when she smiled.

“I see.” 

“I could come to tea, later? If you’re not busy?”

“I’d be delighted.”

I remembered I had no tea at home, so instead of the pond, I went to the store to get some. The ducks can wait, I made them no promises.

I sat around anxiously, waiting for her. Will we be honest? Will she even show?

The door bell rang.

We sat, sipping my new rose and hibiscus tea. She chatted about looking for work. She had a degree in economics. A vary male dominated field. She didn't have any girlfriends. She was isolated. So much so, I gathered, that the loneliness made her befriend her strange middle-aged neighbour who called the police on her all the time. 

“So, your boyfriend works, then?” I pried. 

“No, actually. He didn't go to school, so he has some savings from a previous job. We decided to live off of those while I look for a good job. We’re thinking, maybe when we have a family, I could then stay home, and he would go back to work. That way we both have some free time.”

“You expect to have free time when you have a baby?” I blurted. I shouldn’t rock the boat. There was another more pressing matter I wanted her to hear from me.

“I guess you’re right. I hadn't thought of it that way. Well, however it ends up being, we’re both unemployed for now.”

“Why isn't he looking for a job, then, same as you?”

“I told you, he wants to have some free time while he can, to find himself. He did work his butt off for four years, you know. He earned it.”

“Do you think he earned the right to do that, too?”

She instinctively covered up her cheek with her hand.

“You see it?”

“Anyone with a pair of eyes can see it.”

“He’s not always like that, you know. He’s actually really loving, and funny—”

“He hits you.”

She paused. 

“Yes.” 

“You know you need to leave him.”

“I can't. He pays the rent.”

“You’ll find a job. You don't need him.”

“I can't.”

I held her hand in mine.

She jolted at my touch, yanking her hand way, with tears in her eyes, looking almost scared. 

“I'm sorry. I don't mean to upset you.”

She just stared at me, with a strange expression.

“I know I shouldn’t be saying things like that, you don't know me, and you don't need advice from a woman you just met.”

“Why... Why are your hands so cold? It's so warm in here.”

“My hands?” I was perplexed by her question. That’s what she’s focusing on now? The temperature of my hands?

The dog stared to bark from the inside of her apartment. She sighed.

“I should go. I think I even left the window open, one of these days he’ll actually catch a pigeon or something.”

Our discussion now completely deflected to unimportant matters once again. I had to let it go. 

“Alright, tell Loki I said he needs to be a good boy.”

“I will.”

The boyfriend must have come home, and the dog got out of their apartment. Before he could catch him, he ran inside my own, as she went to leave.

“Loki! Come back!”

They both went after him. Loki made a straight line for the door of my bedroom. Barking insistently and pawing at the door knob. They almost dragged him away, when he made the final jump, opened it, and nosed his way in.

He barked and barked and barked. 

I felt like it lasted for hours. I just kept watching the two, standing at the wide open double door, not turning to me, not calming down the dog. They just stood and stared. 

I walked slowly closer, with each step being more certain of what I’ll find.

Peace overcame me. Relief. Joy. I cackled. Full chest, lungs and heart cackle. It was real. It was. It happened. I did it.

They jolted at the sudden noise, finally turning to me.

“What did you do?” she stuttered. 

The two blackened withered figures could be seen on the once pristine bed. The one on the right wore my favorite outfit, my green dress and my mother’s dragonfly broche. Loki no doubt found his kindred too, by the closet.

“I did what I had to do. Finally, for a time, I got to be free.”

Tears escaped her eyes.

“I’m so glad I got to meet you in the end,” I told her. 

I took my bag I prepared earlier this morning.

“Take care.” I smiled.

I think I'll go to the pond now. Yes, I'd like that.