it’s a warm and tidy house
sweeping views, friendly neighbors
(more importantly — cheap too)

if only there wasn’t
a ghost on the third floor

to be fair — she’s the quiet sort
no flickering lights, blood on the floor
just the occasional garage door
and a faint rumble (of the dryer?)

her mail arrives regularly,
and packages, so many packages
there’s a corner set aside for it
but the pile grows and grows and grows

there are no signs to keep out
just an unspoken agreement
that the third floor is hers

though….just a peek wouldn’t hurt,
right? a friendly little visitation,
quick hello
goodbye

the signs go up a month later
FOR RENT
the piles of mail grow and grow and grow
more names now

new tenants
moving in