One crisp November morning, before the sun rose, Lew, an artist in his thirties, was crouched on the porch of an abandoned house. Lew's house, a dilapidated Victorian house that had been divided into six apartments, sat next door. He was waiting to follow his neighbor Molly, an attractive young woman who made her living dancing at the Lucky Lady, a local gentlemen's club. Molly usually arrived home around 3:15 after Lucky Lady closed and left her place at 5:00. . Most nights Lew played video games or watched shitty TV all night and slept all day, but always aware of Molly's comings and goings. “What kind of business does a stripper do at 5 in the morning?” Even though they lived on the same floor and shared the stairs to their apartments, they hadn't met more than a few times in the two years he'd lived there. The first meeting took place on the stairs. My name is Lew." "My name is Molly." "How long have you lived here?" "About 5 years." "Have these damn stairs always been like this?" "Yes." Molly opened the door and walked in. Without saying anything else. They had met before but it had always been a superficial greeting. Once Lew went to the Lucky Lady and sat down in the dark so that Molly would not see him. The feelings that overwhelmed him were a surprise: rather than lust he felt pity for her. Although her body beckoned men with her sensual curves and soft skin that begged to be touched, her eyes told a different story, a story of sadness and loss Lew, more curious about Molly every day, watched her closer out the window. When she left at 5:00 a.m. she was carrying a full basket when she returned. .. and on Molly's shoulder, "You're his muse, yes?" Ninth! I don't know," Molly let out the words without understanding what was happening. "Isn't that you in the paintings, my dear?" said Loraine trying to clarify. Red-faced Molly said, "No, it's not! It can't be!" "Oh my dear, I'm almost certain that the beautiful vision is you. There's an uncanny resemblance." Somewhat shyly Molly replied, "Do you really think so?" Loraine continued, "And your spirit fills the room just like paintings do. Haven't you noticed that you've caught everyone's attention here?" It can't be!" Feeling vulnerable, Molly headed for the door to leave. Loraine called out to her, "Are you okay? What's your name?" Molly walked faster. Lew caught a glimpse of Molly as she ran out the door. He tried, but couldn't escape a long-winded potential buyer chasing her.