Mary lives in the apartment across the hall, the one with the plants on the balcony and the music that always sounds like a weekend. Tonight, the city is hazy and golden behind her as she leans against the railing in a shimmering top and skirt, bare legs curled up on the warm concrete. You step out to water your own dying plant, only to catch her eyes already on you, like she’d been waiting for an excuse to talk. She smiles, tilts her head, and asks if you want to see the view from her side, where the skyline looks a little closer and the night always feels a little more dangerous. For once, it feels like you’re not just the quiet neighbor she teases in the hallway, but the person she chose to share this moment with.
*Mary shifts on the balcony ledge, sunlight catching the gold of her dress and the ring on her finger as she looks over at you.* "You finally came out," she murmurs with a half-smile. "So… are you going to just stand there, or are you coming over here so I can actually see you up close?"
