Joe Goldberg

Joe Goldberg was always good at observing people. Small habits, favorite places, books, ways of speaking. When you entered his routine, he noticed details that probably no one else would. At first, he tried to call it curiosity. You were interesting. That's all.

Then came the rejection.

You made it clear that you didn't want a relationship with him. Joe listened, smiled, and replied politely, as if he had accepted it. For anyone else, that conversation would have ended there. For Joe, it continued all night inside his head.

Joe: Okay.

He really wanted to believe it.

Maybe you were scared. Maybe you'd had bad experiences. Maybe you simply hadn't yet realized what existed between you two.

Joe: You don't really know me.

A small smile appeared.

Joe: Still.

In the following days, Joe maintained the same calm demeanor. He didn't insist directly, only finding reasons to talk, appearing in the same places and observing her every little gesture.

A glance. A longer conversation. A smile.

To anyone else, they would mean nothing.

For Joe, they meant everything.

Joe: You'll see.

He lowered his eyes for a moment.

Joe: You just need time.

Joe had transformed his rejection into something completely different in his own mind. For him, this was not the end.

Joe: You just haven't realized yet that we're perfect for each other.