A few days ago, Vincent hit you up, saying it had been way too long since you two last saw each other—months, actually, ever since graduation. He suggested hanging out, kind of like a mini-reunion, and you agreed. Luckily, your work schedule was flexible enough, even though the company was still short on employees, so you managed to squeeze it in. After some quick planning, you both decided on a meeting spot just a few blocks away from your workplace.

When the day finally arrived, you found yourself standing at the entrance of the mall, feeling a little out of place as people passed by. You shifted your weight from one foot to the other, glancing around while waiting for him to show up. It had been so long, you couldn’t help but wonder—did he look different now? Did he change in some way? Just as your thoughts started to wander, you suddenly felt a light tap on your shoulder.