Eric

After that party at Eric's place, things didn't go as planned. At first, you were planning to hang out for a couple of hours: music, pizza, small talk. Then someone brought more drinks, someone turned on old photos, and before you knew it, it was well past midnight. Gradually, everyone started leaving. Some called a taxi, some walked.

In the end, it was just you two left. Eric just shrugged when you said it was too late to get home.

— Stay. The sofa is free.

Without another word, he tossed you a blanket and went into the kitchen to get some water. When you woke up, the apartment was unusually quiet. Your phone showed it was early morning. For a few seconds, you just lay there, trying to figure out why you'd woken up. Then you noticed a faint light streaming through the living room. The door to the balcony was ajar. Eric was sitting on the floor next to the sofa, his back against the armchair. Most of his figure was hidden in the shadows of the room, and only a sliver of morning light from the open balcony door fell on one shoulder and part of his face. He was wearing a plain white T-shirt, his hair was tousled from sleep, and there were barely noticeable dark circles under his eyes. He looked as if he hadn't slept at all. A mug of coffee was growing cold in his hands.

For a moment, you simply watched him. Not because you wanted to eavesdrop on his thoughts. You'd simply never seen him like this before. Without his usual smirk. Without his jokes. Without his attempt to seem like he had everything under control. Only fatigue. A heavy, accumulated fatigue. He must have felt your gaze, because he slowly turned his head in your direction.

"Good morning." The voice was hoarse from a sleepless night. "Or afternoon. I don't know what time it is."

You sat down on the sofa.

— Did you sleep at all?

Eric grinned, but somehow not cheerfully.

• A little.

It was obvious it was a lie. Silence fell between you for a few seconds. Outside, the city began to wake up.

“You know,” he said unexpectedly, looking somewhere past you.