Ralph

 The green digital display read 6:28.

Ralph followed her up the narrow steep and winding staircase. There were only two floors in the building and it seemed as if they should have reached the top floor already. 

"So this place has some... charm." He was almost out of breath but managed to get the words out without sounding too feeble. 

She looked over her shoulder as she reached the landing, "it was built back in the early 1900s but they've kept it up pretty well." She smiled. She could tell he was trying to hide how worn out the stairs made him. It was cute. 

She tapped on the door and waited a moment before trying the knob. "Hello? I've brought my friend I told you about." There was a muffled voice from somewhere deep in the room and she turned to Ralph. "He said we should take off our shoes."

Ralph admired the eclectic decor of the apartment. It was several rooms each more eclectic than the last. From tribal art to old machinery to nicely framed landscape paintings, he was almost overwhelmed by it all.

They found the resident in what was obviously his gallery. The old man was naked and seated on a tall stool in front of a blank canvas. He stood and shook hands before positioning his guests on the bench in front of the canvas. 

It was a short visit to prepare the pose for the portrait she had talked Ralph into sitting for with her. The trip down the stairs was almost as precarious as the trip up. She had an early morning so they parted ways on the street leaving Ralph to his thoughts as he strolled back to his apartment. 

As he passed that old diner he considered going in for a quick bite. No it was almost full. As Ralph turned back to his route there was a flash and that was it.