Small smile tugged at Nella’s lips as she saw her neighbour at the window again. She could’ve sworn that she had looked at her at the same time and quickly feigned interest at her empty canvas. It felt nice to see her, like suddenly Nella wasn’t home alone. Now they were together again. Together alone. She painted the window across, the figure of a girl. It was a familiar figure, the form of legs was something she had painted before, but always tried to be discreet about it. Nella didn’t want the girl to notice her staring.<br/><br/>Now seemed to be her lucky day though, even from here Nella could see the other girl sleeping. Slowly she pulled the easel closer to the window, and inspected her face. Each stroke was careful, like instead of painting she would be stroking the girl’s cheeks, running her fingers through the black hair. She made sure to get the expression right, and each of the holes in her shirt. At the soft curve of the girl’s lips, Nella blushed but couldn’t quite explain why. She was only painting the girl.<br/><br/>Once she felt the painting was ready - as ready as her paintings ever were, they were soft and genuine, simple - Nella sat at her own window sill, leaning her head on the side of the window and watching the girl. If only she could look so cool, she thought to herself as she lit a smoke, inhaling and exhaling slowly.<br/><br/>It felt odd to know someone so well, how they look, what brand of cigarettes they smoked and how they wanted their coffee, see them every day and feel at loss when one day they aren’t there. Yet still not knowing their name. Nella could swear though that at times, the girl spoke to herself, and at times she imagined she was talking to Nella. She wouldn’t reply, she rarely did to people talking to her face to face anyway.<br/><br/>If that girl would, though, she liked to think she would answer.