On my nighttime walks, the neighbors' lives reveal themselves, the lit windows domestic aquariums. At times, I'm the silent witness to fights that look like slow-dancing without music. It is astonishing how people live, the messes they sustain, the delicious whiffs of cooking that carry to the street, the holiday decorations that slowly seep into daily decor.
-- Unnamed narrator (Ghosts & Empties)

Importance: The narrator of "Ghosts & Empties" observes her neighbors through the windows of their homes like they are animals from another species. This provides her with some sense of solace from her daily episodes of dread and anxiety, but also indicates that she believes herself to be quite separate from other people. She later recalls watching a friend dry herself off after a shower and having the realization that her friend is a sexual being. The narrator's anxiety prevents her from cultivating strong connections with other people, and these walks alleviate that need for...