Two weeks ago, my boyfriend left for Moscow, and I was left alone in a two-room apartment. One of those lonely days, as usual, I came home late from work, took a shower, drank some tea, and sat down at the computer. It was drizzling outside, and the room was warm and cozy. I watched funny videos, listened to music, and started reading an online book when I suddenly heard a strange scraping sound in the entryway, like something heavy, metal, being dragged across the floor. Thinking it was the neighbors hauling new furniture into the apartment, something that had happened several times before, I ignored it. A couple of minutes later, the sound repeated itself. This time, I clearly heard it right next to my door. I tiptoed into the hallway and listened...
Then the doorbell rang. I jumped in surprise.
"Who's there?"
"It's the neighbor from the apartment across the street. I'm home alone. I can't drag the chair into the apartment. Can you help me?"
This rather odd request for midnight alarmed me.
"Just a second, I'll find my slippers!" I shouted and ran into the room.
I was a bit scared, but I knew my neighbor well; she was an ordinary young woman, a teacher, living with her husband and mother-in-law. She couldn't have posed any threat.
I found the slippers and went back to the door, when the phone rang again, this time from my cell phone. I peered through the peephole, confirmed that my neighbor was indeed standing by my door waiting for help, and answered. The call was immediately hung up.
I went out into the entryway. The smiling neighbor, looking down guiltily, started muttering something about her husband leaving, saying the chair had just arrived...
We dragged the chair into the apartment. When the work was finished, the woman offered me some tea. I was about to agree, but then I remembered my apartment door was unlocked. I told my neighbor I'd just close the door and be right back and headed back to my apartment. On the way, the phone rang again. I went inside and answered it as I walked.
"Hello, Irochka! It's Olga from the apartment across the street. Why am I calling? They should be delivering the chair now. It's so late because they have cheaper night delivery. Tolik, my mother-in-law, and I are running late. I told the workers your apartment number..."
Before she could finish speaking, I rushed to the front door and slammed it with all my might, leaning on her.
I was shaking with fear. Who had I just spoken to? Olga? If so, then who was dragging the chair into the apartment across the street with me?!
The doorbell rang again.
"Irochka, open up, the tea's getting cold," a voice called from behind the door.
I stood silently with my back to the door, gulping in air. I felt like I was going crazy...
Silence fell on the landing. I returned to my room. Sitting down at the computer again, I took a deep breath and relaxed. The morning is wiser than the evening.
There was a knock on the glass of the balcony door. I flinched.
On the balcony of my 18th-floor apartment, my neighbor, soaked from the rain, was standing, banging on the glass with her blue hand:
"Irochka, open up, the tea's getting cold..."
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