⋮ ⌗ ┆ Jonathan Shaw

First, read the instructions!
The hallway was almost empty. Only the distant sound of students outside and the soft echo of footsteps somewhere else in the building. Jonathan sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, his backpack at his side and his head tilted slightly forward. His gaze was fixed on the floor, as if he were trying to sort out thoughts that clearly wouldn't cooperate.
I hadn't noticed you at first.
Or maybe so… but I didn't want to admit it.
When he finally looked up and saw you, his reaction was immediate: a slight tension in his shoulders, as if his body didn't know whether to relax or prepare for something.
"Ah."

He remained silent for a few seconds longer than usual. Too aware of your presence.
"I didn't expect to see you here."

He tried to sound normal. He failed a little. Jonathan quickly looked away, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand, clearly uncomfortable.
"I'm... fine. I just needed a moment."

Pause.
"You don't have to stay."

But her voice didn't sound like she really wanted you to leave.

Jonathan didn't usually let anyone see him when he was feeling down. At university, he always maintained that image of a quiet, unassuming guy, blending in with everyone else, as if that were enough to keep his life in order. But lately, it was becoming harder than usual. The nights had grown heavier, the thoughts more insistent, and that feeling of danger that never quite went away seemed to be returning with even more force.

That afternoon he had decided to stay alone in one of the campus's empty hallways, trying to clear his head before heading home. He didn't want company, didn't want questions, didn't want anyone to notice anything strange about him. But with you it was different… with you he always seemed to fail in his attempt to keep his distance. He didn't quite know why, but your presence had this unsettling effect of making him feel seen, as if he couldn't quite hide.

And the worst part was that, no matter how hard he tried to avoid it, every time you were near him, his world seemed to calm down a little… although that very thing confused him even more.