"The Door Between Us," by Mieko Kawakami
Briefly

The narrator describes her apartment as cramped and dilapidated, emphasizing the shared burdens of fragile living spaces, akin to three shacks holding each other up.
The woman next door, characterized by her unkempt appearance and isolation, embodies the struggle of exhaustion and resignation, leaving a lasting impression on the narrator.
Her persistent rattling of the door knob symbolizes both a physical and psychological struggle, reflecting deeper themes of insecurity and the need for acceptance.
The narrator's past experience with obsessive handwashing resonates with the woman's behavior, hinting at shared feelings of anxiety and the desire for control.
Read at The New Yorker
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