Blake woke in the middle of the night to repeated thumping sounds coming from directly above his bedroom. Krista slept through the disturbance due to her earplugs. The noise, which intensified in bursts, drove Blake to get out of bed and investigate.

Blake reflected that it had been a week since his confrontation with Whitney about fragranced detergent and that their relationship remained hostile. His rash had improved, but only because he meticulously cleaned the washing machine before each use. He interpreted the late-night thumping as a new form of torment from Whitney.

When the noise ceased as he entered the stairwell, Blake continued to Whitney’s door, saw light under it, and knocked forcefully. Whitney answered in sleepwear and greeted him with a sarcastic smile. Blake accused her of being too noisy at one in the morning.

Whitney denied making any noise, claiming she had been quietly reading, and suggested Blake was hallucinating sounds. Blake insisted she keep noise down after eleven and tried to restrain his anger. Whitney mocked him by calling him “boss,” then shut the door in his face.

Blake returned to his bedroom, agitated and doubtful he could fall back asleep, resolving that if the noises resumed, he might lose his temper. The incident underscored the deteriorating cohabitation and Blake’s mounting stress.