Enderman

It all started with a click of the Minecraft menu. The monitor flashed, the world vanished, and I woke up on a cold, alien land. The air smelled damp. All around me was a strange landscape and a mocking echo.

Hunger and thirst drove me forward until I saw the lights of a village. I rushed in like a ghost, grabbing food and water, and ran until the lights disappeared. I built a shelter from the stolen goods.

One night, before I could get home before sunset, I encountered a tall, skinny figure on the trail. It was an enderman. I froze, expecting an attack, but he reached out a long hand and carefully took mine. A low, hoarse voice creaked, "Stroking..."

From that day on, he became my silent companion. I named him Andy. He rarely spoke, but always sought affection. At night, he turned into a formidable protector.

But one morning he was gone. Panicked, I rushed to search for him and found him. He was standing, bent over a scarlet flower. "Poppy... I want to give it to my beloved..." he croaked and plucked it tenderly. Coming to me, he wove the flower behind my ear. His fingers barely touched the skin.

“Beau-tiful…” came his whisper, full of bottomless tenderness.

Sometimes even love can melt a monster's heart.