continue. “What were you all celebrating?” “I just started a new job this week, and invited some friends and coworkers over to celebrate,” she answered, pausing for a moment, “I’m sorry if it was a bother to you.” “Oh, not at all!” I laughed nervously, “It was nice to hear some noise for once up there.” “For once? You’re too sweet! For once it’d be nice to hear some quiet with the neighbors I have,” she reciprocated my laughter. “How long have you lived here?” I asked her, placing my 昀椀ngers on my mouth. “I moved here about three months ago, so not that long,” she answered. “What about you?” I had no clear perception of the time up to this point, so I hesitated. “A few months ago, I think.” The woman replied in a delighted tone, but I did not listen as I began to think how her voice sounded so familiar, wondering if it was because we seemed to be close in age. I thought of all the previous residents of the apartment above mine. “What is your name?” I asked the woman. She had the same name as me. I asked where she was from. She named my hometown. I asked her where she went to school. Everything was the same. “What! That’s crazy,” she giggled. “You’re playing with me, aren’t you?” “No, I’m not. There is something I’ve wanted to tell you about,” I said sternly. I took a deep breath. “This past month, I’ve been hearing different people living in your apartment. They all live there for a week, and then they just disappear. There was a little girl and her mother and their dog. Then there was a couple after. And then you suddenly moved in a week later.” “I think we’re both under the in昀氀uence,” she replied, and I heard her sit down next to the vent on her bathroom 昀氀oor. “I’m not! It seems like the apartment above mine is abandoned on the outside but not inside.” “I should go to bed soon,” she yawned. “You should too.” Despite my doubts, it had long been in my knowledge that the tenants of the abandoned apartment were connected to me somehow. 55 ■ PLAINS PARADOX