The Beauty in Time

6

◿𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚠◸

Cujo barks at me, eagerly waiting for his morning bowl. I smile a little at him, cracking an egg over the counter and letting it go into his bowl. "Hang on," I order, finishing the last few ingredients of his breakfast.

He jumps at it the moment I set it on the ground. I shake my head at him and walk around him to leave him with his bowl. He's practically inhaling it though, so I really don't even have to leave him alone with it.

I still have ten minutes until I need to be out the door, so I walk out to the balcony and light a cigarette for myself. I wake up too early every morning, and I'm starting to wonder what it's like to wake up around nine every day.

Elle across the hall is helping me discover what it's like to wake up around nine. It usually involves some yelling from her, sometimes she'll toss her cat out onto the balcony and claim she's judging her. Something like that.

I don't think she realizes I'm standing right here when she lets Dizzy outside. She never looks my way and she's always gone within seconds, leaving just as quickly as she appears. Also, when she knocked on my door, she looked up at me like she'd never ever seen me before. She's not very aware of her surroundings, I think.

I've been to her library three times.

The first time I went to find a book to pass the time after I'd just moved in. She showed me to an aisle that she said was good for passing the time. Fantasy.

The second time, I went because I realized we lived across from each other. She's the girl I saw toss her cat onto her balcony. I thought she'd recognize me, but she was a little busy, so I ended up being helped by someone who wasn't her.

The third time was an attempt to get her attention, but she didn't really seem all that interested in talking to me. She was more interested in helping the older lady who was struggling a little to find a book. Which I can't be bitter about purely because it's an old lady who can't see well.

I thought she'd finally recognize me when she knocked on my door. She smiled at me and looked at me like she'd never seen me before and simply introduced herself then asked if she could have her cat back.

She doesn't seem to know I've been to her library three times already. She doesn't remember me from the first time I went which is a little disheartening and doesn't really happen that often, but that's fine. I wouldn't expect her to, I guess. She sees a lot of different people daily.

It's funny to me though. Every time she lets Dizzy out, I watch her. She does it every morning and she almost always comes back outside to retrieve Dizzy before she leaves. Sometimes she forgets her out there though.

Lately, it's been happening a little less than normal. I think she's been waking up later and doesn't even have time to notice her cat is staring at her or whatever makes her toss the cat out. I can't help but wonder what's making her wake up late. I haven't had a chance to actually talk to her as of late.

I glance over at her balcony, watching that fluffy tan cat jumps up on the wood. She might've already let the cat out. I must've missed it. "Hey," I greet the cat with a little smile. She quickly looks over at me with wide green eyes. "Where's your momma?" I ask, curious if Elle left already.

Dizzy meows at me and starts to sway a little, getting ready for something. I tilt my head, watching the weird cat start getting ready to pounce on something.

I blink at her, realizing what she's getting ready to do. "Wait, no. Dizzy, stay over there." I order, quickly looking over as I put my cigarette out in the ashtray beside me.