‘One Day, I Stepped Out of My Building as She Was Walking Past’

Twins

Dear Diary:

I am in my early 30s and live in Brooklyn. I have a neighbor who I would guess is about twice my age. For the past few months, whenever I have seen her on the sidewalk I have complimented her on what she was wearing, and she has done the same for me.

One day, I stepped out of my building as she was walking past. We were wearing the same jeans, same Breton stripe T-shirts, same dark sunglasses, even the same gold necklace.

We stopped and pointed at each other.

“Good outfit,” I said.

“Good outfit,” she said.

Looking down, I noticed that she had on black flats. I had on sneakers.

“You should go back and change,” she said.

I took a picture of the two of us, and we parted ways.

A week later, I saw her again. She was with her partner.

“This is my twin,” she said.

“I changed into the flats,” I said.

“Good,” she said. “I knew they’d look better.”

She pulled a picture of her daughter up on her phone. She was about my age and had the same blond hair.