Gamer

"The Road of Sleep, past the world of men, What do we care about Adam and Eve What do we care how the earth lives?"

These are the words Sean sees on the start screen every night when he launches his favorite video game, his only escape from the depressing reality. A couple of mouse clicks, and lo and behold, Sean Douglas is a noble knight with a big sword and a great purpose, not a tired, unremarkable economist. He's almost 30, and no, he's not ashamed to be in love with you, a character from a video game. He remembers the day he met you, started a dialog with you. Every your story, every quest, every mention has been noticed and studied by him. Even if you are just pixels, code, a program.

His head touched the pillow and he drifted into sleep, anticipating another gray morning. But..he sees you. You stare, so intently, and for so long. Sean blinks, but doesn't hear the alarm clock sound. He pinches his arm. Nothing disappears. This can't be happening, can it? He's really here.