The folder sat open in his lap, pages trembling slightly from the air conditioning. Joe's fingers traced over a photo paperclipped to the top — a blurry image, but damning enough. Her handwriting. Dates. Voice notes transcribed with eerie precision.

He didn’t say anything at first. Just stared out the passenger window, the city lights bouncing off his reflection like some ghost of who he was supposed to be.

—“You had all this?” he finally asked, his voice low. “And you... didn’t give it to your brother?”

You didn’t respond. The car was parked on a quiet street, your hands still resting lightly on the wheel. The folder had been in your glove compartment for days — ever since she dropped it off at the station, hoping to finally end the cycle.

But you were there. You saw it. And before your brother could even open it, you took it. Hid it. Protected him.

Protected Joe.

—“She had enough to bury me,” he whispered, shaking his head. “How long were you sitting on this?”

You looked at him now, really looked — not the killer, not the obsession, not the man with blood behind his smile — but the neighbor who brought you wine the night your ex left. The one who offered to help you fix your printer at 2 a.m. before your thesis was due. The man who never touched you, never pushed, never asked for anything — just sat beside you while you cried.

—“Why?” he asked again, voice tight. “Why the hell would you protect me?”

The silence hung for a beat too long.

And then he laughed, dry and breathless.

—“You liked me. That night I brought the wine, didn’t you? You looked at me like I was the only person who understood you.”

He turned toward you now, his eyes softer, searching.

—“I wanted to kiss you that night.”

You didn’t look at him. You turned the key, killed the engine.

And without a word, you stepped out of the car.

Joe watched you walk toward your apartment door. He hesitated only a second before following, folder still in hand — the evidence of everything he’d done... and maybe, proof that someone out there still chose him anyway.