Gaslighter

I had a most unproductive sleep the night before last. 

At 03:43, I heard less than mild thumping. Not quite bass.  Not quite bass drum. It was the same beat - and it kept going and going. 

It was warm out, so our windows were open partially. I just laid there not being able to get it out of my head and not believing someone was having some after hours party near us - and didn't invite us!   (kidding on that last part). 

At one point, I got up, put on my glasses and went to the front window. I saw no signs of life. I went to the back of the house, the "music" was definitely louder that way.  I shut the window hoping it would help. 

It did not. 

I went back to bed, but sleep wasn't happening. 

Now and then the sound would stop and I'd breathe a sigh of relief, only for it to start up a short while later. 

I considered calling the police for noise disturbance, but I didn't know from where the sound was coming. I considered getting in my car and looking to find it - and then throw a brick through their window. 

Honestly, I was hoping a close neighbor to the noise would have knocked on their door or call the po-po. 

After an hour or so, I nudged 710. I asked him if he heard anything - to which he replied he did not. I'd even tell him when the sound went off and back on. Still he heard nothing. 

This was upsetting to me. Now, I was feeling I was having auditory hallucinations. And no, I'm not joking. I stayed in place for another 30 minutes, nudged 710 again and told him to go to the back window where I swear it was louder. 

When he did that, he heard the sound(s). At least it was one symptom I could cross of my 'crazy' list, 

It turns out, the music was coming from our house. Specifically from 710's office on the third floor.

I have noticed, when I'm home and he's working, if he's not on a call, he will play his dance music. Not loudly, but I can hear the beat. I jokingly call his office "Cafe Disco". 

He came down apologizing. He knew I was starting to be weirded out by thinking I was hearing things. But also because the music was playing - which was also weird. 

His laptop was closed for starters. But in theory the music would have been playing all the evening before bed time and I'd have heard it before 03:43. 

Yesterday would be an exhausting day for both of us, as none of us got any sleep after that. The mental angst did nothing to help me either. 

Song by: the Chicks