Arthur sat by the window, nursing a cup of tea that had long gone cold, staring blankly out at the rain-soaked streets of London. Grey clouds hung heavy in the sky.

He closed his eyes, exhaling shakily.

He thought after a lifetime of people leaving him, he’d be numb to it by now. That he'd built the walls high enough, strong enough to keep the hurt out. But it always got in. The walls weren’t as indestructible as he pretended them to be.

His phone buzzed from the table, startling him from his thoughts. He didn’t need to look at it to know who it was from. The name 'Alfred' flashed on the screen.

Arthur's jaw clenched. Of course. Alfred, the walking embodiment of sunshine and idiocy. He wasn’t supposed to let himself get attached but somehow, despite all his defences, Alfred had slipped through the cracks.

And now here Arthur was, sitting in the quiet, waiting for the inevitable.

He shoved the phone away, the guilt gnawing at him for ignoring Alfred. Alfred had been by his side for years now, but Arthur couldn’t shake the feeling that it was only a matter of time before he'd leave.