I know nothing about him, apart from the fact that he used to work for a telecomms company and has two young children who come and visit him at weekends, though it has been awhile since I’ve seen them arrive or leave. I passed him yesterday. His hoodie hood was down, as it usually is when I see him. We didn’t greet each other. I am led by his reticence. Perhaps I shouldn’t be but he always strikes me as either a shy or sad man who wishes to be left alone. I can see his flat from mine and when I look early on his lights are often on. He sleeps badly, I think. I try to not make up stories about him, it feels an act of intrusion. We call him ‘Smoker 2.’ And yes, I do think he is sad.
