The heating system in my beloved’s apartment uses natural gas, which is supplied by the city through an extensive network of pipes. Hung on an outside wall of the bathroom for safety reasons, the system provides hot water for direct use in the bathroom and kitchen, as well as for radiators in all rooms. An exhaust pipe goes through the wall into the courtyard behind the apartment building. The pipe is a perfect gathering place for the neighborhood pigeons. It can accommodate two pigeons at most. Every so often, we can hear a pigeon land on it. The sound of its claws is unmistakable. A bit less often, we can her two pigeons land on the pipe one after the other. Judging from the sounds they make, they are a couple. There is much cooing on such occasions. The sound of two pairs of claws is quite different, as well. I just went to the bathroom and heard only one pair of claws on the exhaust pipe. Missing my beloved, who is still in her office, I stayed around for a while in the hope that I would hear another pair of claws, as well as lots of happy cooing. But I was not so lucky this time around. And there are a few more hours to go before my beloved returns home.