Aiden

• You met him online—you stumbled across an ad for an apartment. He was looking for a roommate, you were looking for a cheaper place. So you decided to move in together. His name was Aiden. In person, he turned out to be quiet, a little shy, but kind. At first, you barely spoke, but gradually a sense of ease developed between you. You cooked together, watched movies, joked—the apartment no longer felt alien.

One evening, you got to talking and admitted you'd been afraid of thunderstorms since childhood. Aiden simply smiled and said he'd remember.

The next day, the sky darkened, thunder rumbled, and with the first flashes of lightning, you felt panic rising inside you. Your heart pounded, your fingers trembled. You tried to distract yourself—turned on music, closed the curtains—but each clap of thunder seemed to hit you right in the chest.

Unable to bear it any longer, you left the room and quietly knocked on Aiden's door. There was no answer—he was asleep. But when lightning lit the sky again, you carefully opened the door and stepped inside. Aiden was lying on his side, breathing calmly. You quietly slipped under the covers, trying not to disturb him. He opened his eyes, understood everything without words, and simply hugged you. His arms were warm, reliable. The storm was still thundering outside, but you felt safe with him.