Eight twenty-five A.M his bare feet shuffle across the floor into his bathroom.

I run, I stand, I listen, silence, the water, the brushing I imagine, the splash, no water he dries.

The footsteps they thump he’s awakened fully I suppose his hair is damp, his robe is white. No blue.

He thumps, the beep is loud his coffee is ready a splash of cream two sugars I know this he drops his receipt one day coming from the coffee shop.

I wait, the toaster pop two pieces of toast is that jam or butter I don’t know he bites he chews, I wait.

It’s a quarter to ten. I sit in the bedroom; I wait for blue jeans, beige sweater socks then sneakers.

He squeaks across the floor. The trash! I ran to my front door keys in hand in case someone saw me in the hallway alone.

Bam the incinerator door I count the steps back. Twelve bam his front door.

Back inside, I wait in silence for the T.V. ten o. Clock news the weather I wait with him for the weather.

I lay on the love seat and counted the cracks in my ceiling thirty-two. He stands, the squeak. TV off

It is ten thirty-five two things can happen he writes, or he does morning walk. The silence I assume he is.

Writing I hear laughter one sided conversation. I listen to squeak laughter double squeak a deep laughter.

I wonder if I listen to the silence again, I’m straining I can’t hear then the blessing I hear clearly, I love cheesecake. Eleven o Clock on the dot

I called the bakery, and I ordered one small cheesecake with my name and apt# 3A on the card, direction leave at apartment #4A knock when leaving. I hang up, I wait. No squeaks, I listen to the silence.

Eleven forty-six the door bam I listen he has taken the bait I hear no squeaks eleven fifty a knock at my door the terror he read the note in the hallway. I freeze he knocks again I spin I’m sweating just eat the cake decide if you want it or not. You are too honest Sir! I freeze. A voice. Hello, I walked to the door. 

I Open it. Two years later. He says honey do you want cheesecake or pie with dinner. I smile, I blush, I am grateful I laugh and say Cheesecake.