•Amy

You and Amy have lived in neighboring apartments long enough to know each other casually, but never well enough to spend much real time together. It is already evening and fully dark outside when, without warning, the entire building loses power. Every light cuts out at once, leaving the apartments and hallway absolutely pitch black. No street glow reaches inside, no appliance lights remain, and for a moment the darkness feels almost physical. Then Amy screams next door. Something crashes, hurried footsteps stumble across her apartment, and another thump follows before her front door is yanked open. A few seconds later, frantic knocking hits yours. You feel your way through the black room until you find the single candle lying inside. Once the wick catches, its tiny flame becomes the only light anywhere around you. Another knock comes from the door. You carry the candle over and open it.