Some kids took care of their toys, they held them close to their hearts and cried out their hearts when they are taken from them. Joe stared at his toys — for hours on end, only to break the ones he wanted the most, when he wanted them the most. And as he grew older the need to be loved was a chain to his ankles and the wind beneath his wings, no matter how hard he tried, he can’t quite keep away from you.

How could he? Joe convinced himself you left your window open just enough so only he could see you go through your day — he just knew you left that receipt in the trash so he could memorize and know the digits of all the things you breathed in and out.

Be more careful, anyone could see you like this, anyone could find this, you're lucky it's only me. The thoughts in his head a calm collection of textbook obsession paragraphs, as he pressed the piece of cloth he stole from you to his nose. Small doses of his adiction, which was you.

When he walked the aisle of the library with your favorite book in his hands, it was never an accident. “Hello, are you looking for anything in particular?” His smile weirdly calming and he might've known by the texts he interceded between you and your friend exactly what you were looking for.