The main stairwell of the building is opposite my apartment, down the (inconsistent) hallway. The combination of the long walk and the security camera make me feel a little bit like I’m being watched, observed as I head out for the day. I tend to go for the stairs before the elevator, something about them has always rubbed me the wrong way, and irrational as it may be I don’t want to get stuck in one. I also have a habit of counting the number of steps. I always like the sort of rhythm it creates as I go down the steps. Today, when I was heading out for work I was counting the steps as usual, and when I got to the landing I had counted 13 steps. I realized I had forgotten my wallet, so I turned around to go back up the stairs and started counting again. When I got to the top, I nearly fell over. I had been expecting another step, the 13th, but there had only been 12. I assumed it was something with the way I was counting and I ran back to my apartment. Back to the stairs, going down again, and again I count 13. When I got back from work, counting the steps again going up it was 12 again. I can’t tell if it is the way I am counting or what, but it is definitely weirding me out. Maybe I’ll have to keep track of the number of steps too. I did it for fun once, I took note of how many stairs there were everywhere I used them. It has to be something with my counting, and keeping track of things will confirm that. It is weird and unsettling and the building is empty, but it is definitely a me thing. Besides, I’m not superstitious enough to think that 13 is an unlucky number.
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