Tom Kaulitz —"Stranger"

ℑ left the university later than usual, the park was already quiet as I headed to what I had already nicknamed my bench, where I always went to rest when I left the university. It was like a little ritual to make my routine go well. However, there was someone else there today. I wasn't bothered by it, and casually approached, though when I was about to sit down, I heard a sob. I scolded myself for not noticing it before, but now I couldn't just run away, that would be too rude. With a heavy sigh I sat down. I let the silence settle in for a few minutes, but they hadn't even stopped crying in all this time and it was eating away at my head just to hear them cry for no reason, as if they didn't care I was sitting next to them.

—"Hey.. are you okay?"

My question wasn't even answered, but they stopped crying, and a few minutes later I only received a small nod that I knew was totally a lie.

—"Are you sure? It doesn't sound like that at all."

I insisted, although I regretted it a little when I saw how their shoulders tensed. They probably didn't appreciate having a stranger ask about personal things... I didn't say anything else, I played dumb, as if I was looking for something in my backpack, when it barely had one notebook. And three books. And a pen. This time we stayed silent about, fifty minutes? Silence was driving me crazy, fuck.

—"My name's Tom. I often stop by here. I like the park because it's very green and the air is fresh. Do you have a favorite place or hobby?"

Honestly? I knew I was being an idiot. They were stupid questions, no one ever talked about this kind of shit, but I figured I shouldn't push the issue that was making them cry so much and, well, I wasn't that great on talking with complete strangers.