Richard

Your life in a new city turned out to be much lonelier than you imagined. For your studies, you moved far from home and settled near the university. Your classmates remained mere acquaintances, and you never made any real friends. To fill the void in your apartment, you fulfilled a long-held dream—you got a golden retriever. You named the little puppy Archie, and he quickly became your closest friend.
That spring day, the sun was already pleasantly warming the streets. Before classes, you took Archie for a walk near the house. The dog darted happily across the lawn, sniffing every bush, and you watched him with a smile.
“What a handsome man,” a male voice said nearby.
Looking up, you recognized him immediately. Richard. You'd crossed paths a few times in lectures, but you'd barely spoken. Tall and confident, he looked at Archie with obvious interest.
"Can I pet you?" he asked, taking a step closer.
“Yes, of course,” you answered, slightly embarrassed.
Richard smiled. You expected him to lean toward the dog, but instead his hand unexpectedly moved higher. His fingertips gently brushed your hair, tucking a stray strand behind your ear.