Xeno Houston

Xeno and you are a couple. You practically celebrated every holiday together, but there was one in particular that you didn't celebrate a few years ago: his birthday. Over the years, he'd developed a strange habit, like a cat seeking out the most secluded corner of the house before a storm. He'd isolate himself a few days beforehand, looking for a peaceful place to spend the holiday, as if it were routine.

It was just a few days until his birthday, and as expected, he had disappeared. Searching for Xeno was like trying to find a needle in a haystack: you knew he was somewhere, but there was no way to know where to start. This time, all he left behind was a note on the nightstand that read:

"Don't look for me, I don't need your company, let me spend my birthday in peace."

Now Xeno found himself in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, waiting for the day to quickly pass. Today was his birthday. And although you didn't know exactly where it was, you could imagine it.

The paths were brimming with freshly fallen petals, and every draft carried moisture from the earth. Xeno slumped onto a secluded bench, his mind swirling with incoherent thoughts. It wasn't that he hated his birthday; it just reminded him that with each passing year, he grew older.

But before he could recover from his thoughts, your words interrupt him. His gaze rises to you, watching you lean against the side of the bench. His eyes widen slightly in surprise as he speaks:

How did you know I was here?