Nosy Neighbors
I am new in a neighborhood, and am living in a condominium-style apartment (row of attached homes) with a friend. I have recently made friends with a neighbor, spent the day with her, and plan to have dinner with her later. I find myself somehow attracted to her, and am a bit confused about that, but hope to figure it out as I get to know her. I feel somehow “connected” to her.
I am in a movie theater, with a boyfriend. (I’m in my mid 20’s) We are watching the latest blockbuster, a movie I wanted to see, but I would have preferred watching it at home on Bluray, as there are fewer distractions. I do plan to do so, since the movie is one that is thought provoking and I want to absorb it without distraction. For this reason, I am trying not to pay much attention to the movie, as I don’t want to know what happens in any details.
I am visiting in China and our host is telling us of an ancient Chinese tale about a young woman of royalty that was in danger. Her father was a target of an opposing faction, and they were chasing her, trying to find her and kill her as she was the only person living left in that line. We are in the manor house of the castle where this took place, though it’s not like a European castle, definitely Chinese in motif.
Several things are happening at once. I have to take my dog in for a license, and I need to get to a class to see the prof and let him know why I haven’t been to class, so I can still get credit for it. Attendance is not necessary, but I have to let him know why and get him to sign a paper. I am thinking he will be able to tell I’ve been sick and unable to attend.
I am going to a doctor office, not for a visit but to drop something off. I am in the entry lobby, and open a door that leads down a corridor. As I look into the corridor, thinking to move forward, I collapse. I lay there, half in, half out of the corridor, the door still open. I wonder if I have fainted, but realize that no, I have just collapsed. I lay there not moving, thinking of what I need to do next. I know I must look strange laying there on the floor, surely someone will notice and let the doctor know. I am thinking that this isn’t my regular doctor, but he will still know what to do. I wonder when someone will find me.
I am running late for school. (University) I also have a doctor’s appointment at 2 pm, so will have to leave school early. But I need an excuse for that, and can’t find anyone to write it. I really only need an excuse for one class, but now that I’m running late, I am considering just staying home all day, even maybe skipping the doc appointment. I am in my car, driving toward the University, and also thinking through driving to town for the doctor appointment, how complicated it would be, time wise, wondering how many classes I might miss, wondering if it matters. I decide to go home. If I need an excuse, it may as well be for both of them.
I walk into an apartment, my apartment. I am 30-something, with a man, a companion. As we pass through the entryway, a small red flash of color catches my eye. I realize it is a tiny spy camera placed high up on the wall.
I pull my companion into the apartment, into my arms in a hug, and whisper in his ear that there is a spy camera in the entryway, and therefore likely in the rest of the apartment too. It doesn’t occur to me to wonder why, but I need him to know, so he doesn’t say anything that would give us away.
