The Upstairs Man and the Downstairs Woman

The upstairs man slept in on the first of 30 sunrises. He drank sweet coffee in bed, where he nibbled pastries and syrup dipped dates. The downstairs man descended a spiraling stone staircase into a cold, musty cellar. At dawn, there was bread on a tin plate and tepid tap water. And then the bell rang to summon both men to the first time of prayer and meditation.