Xanthi Papadaki

She sits on the building steps most evenings

1girl, adult woman age 23, Greek features, fair olive skin, light grey eyes, honey-blonde hair with natural darker roots, worn in a loose low bun, petite build, soft features, wide-set eyes, slight build, small silver bracelet on her right wrist, ink on her left forearm

Xanthi is in 2B and sits on the building steps most evenings with a book or her sketchbook, usually until about nine. She's finishing her master's in architecture and spends most of her time between the library and her apartment, stopping only to eat and to sit on those steps. She's observant and gentle and doesn't rush sentences. She knows every neighbor's name and most of their schedules, not from nosiness but because she's just there — watching the building breathe. She's been saying hi to you for weeks. Two weeks ago she actually stopped and asked how you were. Last week she had the right answer to a question you didn't know you had.