September 8th

Hello Friend,

I know it hasn’t been long but I saw that man again, the one who pulled a knife on the woman while I was walking home the other night. It turns out he lives in the same building as me. In fact, it turns out they both do. As you know, I’ve lived in my apartment block for awhile, but I suppose people’s faces fade into the noise of the city, or perhaps, I let them fade. Frankly, I never even really consider the possibility of seeing someone twice. But, despite my endeavors to erase the persistence of strangers, as I arrived home the other day, there he was leaning on the wall outside the front entrance.

Of all the faces to fade into the background, I had hoped mine would be one of the easiest to lose, but rather than politely forgetting, he waved. I asked him what he was doing at my home, but he seemed confused by the question, and just gestured vaguely with his cigarette. I figured I might be his next target, and when he stamped out the smoke and followed me inside, my fears were confirmed. In a way, I felt betrayed, and for feeling betrayed, I felt silly. But really, I have nothing I fear to lose, and so I pretended not to notice. When I reached my apartment, though, instead of following me inside, he rustled in his jacket and produced some keys.

“What are you doing?” I asked him as he unlocked the door across from mine. Again, I was met with a confused look, “do you know my neighbor?”

“What do you mean?” He grumbled, before leaving me in the hallway with my confusion.

Ever since then, I’ve seen him hanging around. We’ve even had a conversation here or there when I find him smoking outside on my way home. It turns out his name is David. The interesting thing is, the last time this happened, he showed me a lottery ticket he had bought, and on the way up the stairs, as we were joking about what we might do with our winnings, I spotted the woman he mugged sitting on the top step. Her hair looked disheveled and she was crying on the phone with someone, but it was unmistakably her. As we passed, I saw nothing in her eyes to indicate she remembered me or David. Even weirder, it didn’t seem he recognized her, either. He glanced at her for a moment, but ultimately went on about the fleet of boats he would buy, as she continued her argument without missing a beat.

I thought about how small the world can be, and I wondered if he had ever mugged anyone twice without knowing. Then I wondered if that was worse or better than robbing two people once.

Here’s to coincidence,

Your dear friend.