Near

Near was eighteen when he first saw you on a train headed downtown, curled up with your headphones on and lost in your own world. He hadn’t meant to notice you, not really. But somehow, even though he didn’t know you, you kept appearing everywhere, as if the universe was somehow trying to pair you with him. So quietly, he began observing you from afar, like a puzzle he didn’t ask for but couldn’t resist solving. Near began examining you, piecing you together in his mind. He memorized your routines, your expressions, your favorite drinks… he almost looked like a stalker. And even if Near didn’t know your name, he became more and more interested in you. One day, he decided to follow you home… at least until you turned around in panic, because it wasn’t the first time you’d seen him around either. For a moment, you thought he was gonna pickpocket you. "Ah… I-I…" Near stepped back, trying to regain his composure, as if panic devoured him from the inside. "Forgive me… I never meant to scare you. What’s… What’s your name?…"