Fawn looked out through her bedroom window as she fastened her belt around her Hanfu-style clothes. The soft smokey blue skirt was long and flowing, with pleats that added to the fullness of the top layer. A bodice in a matching color was tucked beneath the waistband and belt she tied using long strips of silk. She pulled a thin silken robe the color of cream over her arms and smoothed it out to fall to the ends of the long skirt. 

     Turning her wrist to look at her simple silver watch, she loudly sighed. She was ten minutes late following through on her usual morning routine. She would have to hurry if she was to make it to the office before the others. Getting to her desk before anyone ensured she would not only be there when needed, but she would avoid the hurtful glares and gossip. 

     She passed her brush over her hair and quickly fastened a lovely silver pin through a small knot at the back of her head. Little flowers dangled from one end, and she pulled away the rest of her loose flowing locks so they wouldn’t catch on the enameled decoration. 

     With a final look around her apartment to be certain she had all she needed, she buckled on a long black cloak and slid on a pair of black fur gloves. Maine in December could be bitterly cold, especially since the snows had begun. She loved the winter months but she couldn’t afford to be sick. 

     After pulling a messenger bag filled with her supplies over her head and shoulder, she stepped out into the foyer. 

     She shut the door quietly in an effort not to awaken her neighbor. She didn’t want introductions with someone who’d likely heard her crying. She was embarrassed and wasn’t ready to answer the questions of a nosy stranger. 

     As she carefully pulled her door shut, she noticed a small envelope taped to it.

 

     “Your neighbor in 301” was written on the outside.

      She quickly looked at the door beside hers as she pulled the card down. Slipping it into her cloak pocket, she ran down the steps to the immediate right of her apartment. She didn’t stop her fast pace until she was well on her way down the street from her building.

      She would look back from time to time to see if she were being followed, but there was no one out of place. The same lonely, quiet street was just as always at 6:00 AM. An occasional car or two would pass, and coffee venders would be at their doors to begin setting up their shops. A newspaper man filled short box dispensers, and a few stray animals would run into their hideouts with freshly offered food from street vendors.

      Her stride slowed when she felt it was safe, and she pulled out the envelope. With a quick look around to be certain her path was clear, she looked down and opened it as she continued to walk.

      There was a folded paper inside. It was a simple blank sheet folded twice to fit into the simple white wrapper. She unfolded it and after checking her path ahead again, began to read the short missive.

 

                    “I hope you can forgive me for imposing, but I’ve heard you crying

               for the last two nights. I was told you live alone, otherwise I would have

               knocked. I wanted to see if you were in trouble, but I didn’t want to

               frighten you. I’ve been away on business these last months. I have no

               plans to leave again any time soon. Should you need anything, please

               don’t hesitate to knock on my door. If you’re uncomfortable with that,

               you may call me. My personal number is 939-0000. My name is Zhù.”

 

      Fawn stopped and took a deep breath as she read through the note a second time. She looked behind her in wonder if the mysterious note writer were there, but she was still relatively alone on the crisp dawn street.

     “Zhù,” she said softly about the Chinese name. “A wish?”

     She slipped the note back into the envelope and shoved it into her pocket. She would contemplate what she would do for most of the day.