You are in the public restroom doing your thing. It has been
a long day, and you finally have the chance to relieve yourself and you are
going to fully utilize the cubicle you're in.
You realize that there is someone in the cubicle next to you. Probably doing the same thing you're doing, probably not. Either way, your neighbor is not your problem.
You then realize your neighbor seem to be doing the exact same things you're doing. When you shuffle your feet, they do it too. When you flip the next page of the magazine you are reading, they do it too. When you clear your throat, they do it too. You wonder whether if it's just an echo in the bathroom, but there were clearly shadows of feet visible at the bottom gap of the wall that separates you and your neighbor.
You start to get spooked when you hear your neighbor stand up at the same time as you. When you flush the toilet, they mirror your actions too. When you put on your pants, the jingle of their belt mirror yours. And when you walk to your door and unlatch your lock, they do it too.
You wait to see if your neighbor comes out first, but there is no footsteps or the sound of someone washing up at the sink. It is as if your neighbor is waiting for you to come as well, and when you steal a peek at the gap, you can see their shadow is still there.
You finally decide to come out first. You do not look anywhere but forward as you make your way to the sink. You want to catch your neighbor off guard and finally find out who is it that has been heckling you throughout your peaceful bathroom break. You wash your hands at the sink, keeping your eyes on your task. When you realize your neighbor still has not appeared next to you to wash up, you dare yourself to look up at the mirror to see if your neighbor has finally decided to come out.
That's when you realize that the cubicle next to you was not a bathroom stall at all.
It was the janitor's closet.
You realize that there is someone in the cubicle next to you. Probably doing the same thing you're doing, probably not. Either way, your neighbor is not your problem.
You then realize your neighbor seem to be doing the exact same things you're doing. When you shuffle your feet, they do it too. When you flip the next page of the magazine you are reading, they do it too. When you clear your throat, they do it too. You wonder whether if it's just an echo in the bathroom, but there were clearly shadows of feet visible at the bottom gap of the wall that separates you and your neighbor.
You start to get spooked when you hear your neighbor stand up at the same time as you. When you flush the toilet, they mirror your actions too. When you put on your pants, the jingle of their belt mirror yours. And when you walk to your door and unlatch your lock, they do it too.
You wait to see if your neighbor comes out first, but there is no footsteps or the sound of someone washing up at the sink. It is as if your neighbor is waiting for you to come as well, and when you steal a peek at the gap, you can see their shadow is still there.
You finally decide to come out first. You do not look anywhere but forward as you make your way to the sink. You want to catch your neighbor off guard and finally find out who is it that has been heckling you throughout your peaceful bathroom break. You wash your hands at the sink, keeping your eyes on your task. When you realize your neighbor still has not appeared next to you to wash up, you dare yourself to look up at the mirror to see if your neighbor has finally decided to come out.
That's when you realize that the cubicle next to you was not a bathroom stall at all.
It was the janitor's closet.
Comments