Bystander Effect

11:22 p.m., a weeknight. You're getting ready for bed when you hear a scream outside. Not once — twice. Three times. A woman's voice, then a heavy thudding sound. You step to the window and ease the curtain aside. Across the street, near the entrance of a building, two people are arguing. One shoves the other, hard. You scan the neighboring buildings — a 5th-floor window is lit. The 6th-floor too. Two customers at the convenience store on the ground floor are looking out. Other people are clearly seeing this. Other people are clearly hearing it. Your phone is plugged in by the bed. Calling the police means reaching out your hand. But — 'someone else has already called,' the thought drifts through. Another scream. This one weaker.