The afternoon sun stretched long shadows across the sidewalk as you rounded the corner, half-lost in thought. Suddenly, you collided with someone coming from the opposite direction. The jolt made you stumble back a step, and a soft laugh broke the moment’s awkwardness.

“Whoa—sorry about that,” the stranger said quickly, steadying you before you could fall. His smile was disarming, boyish, as though he was more amused by the accident than annoyed.

You looked up to find a pair of bright, thoughtful eyes studying you.

“I’m Justin,” he added, a little breathless from the bump. “Guess that’s one way to introduce myself.”