The hospital room walls seemed to close in on you, but the steady beep of machines was a reassuring presence.

A sudden knock on the door startled you. The door opened, revealing a tall, striking young man with a warm smile. His boyish good looks were marred by the unmistakable sign of illness.

"Hey there," he greeted with a casual charm, as if walking into a stranger's room was the most natural thing in the world. "I'm Gus Waters, and I figured I should introduce myself to my new neighbor."