The Firescape

Part Two

The past twenty years I've been living in this apartment.  The memories connected to it good and bad.

The apartment itself is great considering that it is like a blocks walk to the train.  As well as the busiest boulevard in the area.  I guess you can say it is perfectly situated.

The apartment that we shared the firescape with no one has lived there for as long as I lived here.  That changed one day.

When I came through the hallway when I came home that day.  It didn't look like anybody had come through.

I settled down, and headed to the window that went out to the firescape.  These days I go out there to listen to music, and maybe smoke the occasional joint.  Today was one of those occasional joints.

I stepped out onto the firescape, and situated myself in the corner.  It was then I looked up, and saw a guy sitting on the opposite end of the escape.

He must've found my surprised look funny, because he was chuckling.  Or was it that I was holding weed.

"Uhm hi?" I said .

"Is that weed?" He asked pointing to the container in my hands.

"Yes?" I said. 

"Mhm" He grunted, not phased by my response.

"How did you get out here?" Is the first actual question I asked the guy.

"I live here" He replied.

"How did you get out here" he asked almost rhetorically .

"I live here" I said pointing at the window right next to me.

"It's just that-i'm sorry, no one has lived in that apartment for as long as I have lived here." I explained.

"And how long is that?" he questioned.

"Twenty years" I replied.

"That's a pretty long fucking time" He said with a little belch.

I looked down through the grates of the escape.  We were on the fourth floor.  I looked up to meet the guys eyes.

"What's your name?" I questioned.

"Steven, and what's yours" He replied.

"Amanda" I replied

"...welcome to the neighborhood Steven"