THE WOMAN WHO KNOCKED EVERY NIGHT

but ignoring her never worked. She always seemed to know I was home. One stormy evening after a disastrous day at work, soaked from the rain and exhausted beyond reason, I finally snapped. The moment the knocking started, I tore open the door before she could continue. I exploded at her in the hallway, accusing her of inventing problems just to bother me. I told her I was tired of being disturbed every night, tired of feeling trapped in my own apartment, and cruelly suggested that maybe people avoided her because she was impossible to deal with. The words spilled out faster and harsher than I intended, fueled by months of frustration I had buried inside myself.