It’s weird, having independence. You hardly feel like an adult, and yet, the law says otherwise. Figuring out taxes and seeing the perpetually piled boxes left to unpack from the move does nothing to soothe your anxieties.

With a gentle sigh you click off your device, having just finished a rewatch of a 3fs video. Maybe it was childish, but the man and his humor provided you the comfort you needed in these times of transition.

You had yet to meet your new neighbors, the neighbors you’d have to make small talk with. The never-ending torment of ‘chit-chat’.

A click of the door handle, half awake in the middle of the afternoon wasn’t a great look, but you thought no one I know will see me, who cares? Of course, fate would have it that your neighbor, the one perfectly adjacent to your place—would be opening their door at the exact same time.

What kind of luck is that?

Although soon after the door swings open, your heart almost stops for a different reason than ‘chit-chat’. Standing before you is the man who you’ve only ever seen on screens. Starstruck, and hit with the odd realization that you know him like you know an old friend but he doesn’t even know you exist, you lose all ability to speak.

Considering he’s not an idiot, or blind he notices the astonished staring. “Hey. You just moved in, right?” He offers a kind smile, not the kind you’ve seen in his video introductions. It’s casual. Real. “I’m Max. Nice to meet’cha.” He nods.