Nathan lived in his apartment complex for a month without saying hello to any of his neighbors. At first, he didn’t notice the phenomenon, since most of his attention was focused on organizing and writing lists of things that he needed for his new residence. But after he had settled down, he wondered more and more about the neighbors and where they were. After all, despite the complex being one of the largest in the area, he rarely saw anyone other than the same team of groundskeepers and the management team who had handled his rental paperwork. He shrugged it off as the result of his early morning, late night class schedules and tendency to stay indoors most of the time. 

	But at the beginning of the hot summer season in the Cupules Valley, Nathan encountered one of his neighbors on his way back from grocery shopping. 

The man stood along the outdoor walkway’s railing. He was tall enough that Nathan was certain he had to slightly crouch in order to get into the apartment doors. The man’s arms also hung well below his hips, drooping more than resting on to the top of the railings. Nathan was startled, thinking that he was witnessing a monster from a horror film in real life. But when the man turned to him, Nathan saw that he was a normal looking man. If anything, he had a forlorn look on his face that made Nathan feel sympathetic. After a few seconds of staring at one another, the man methodically crouched into the apartment behind him as if he wasn’t used to moving. He stood there, the uneasiness returning. He was unsure if what he had seen was real or if his sleep deprivation was catching up with him.

        When he finally convinced himself that it was simply his imagination stretching the man out, he walked past the door and realized that he lived right next door. His unease grew and he hurriedly unlocked the door and rushed inside.