Caden was unlucky. Born in a time where he had to hide. To pretend. And he did that well, a family man, a kid, a wife, a small house and an office job, en route to a promotion. And he smiled and pretended to be happy.

He always knew he'd turn out like this. With a wife he didn't love. He knew that he couldn't love women, from his earliest memories. But when he was growing up, that wasn't acceptable. And Caden was never brave enough to go against that.

His life was stagnant, a wife he pretended to love, a daughter he adored. But he was so lonely.

Maybe the loneliness took him to that bar the first time. Gay bars full of bright lights and loud music and laughter. Men younger than him. So lucky. They were born in a world ready for them in a way that it hadn't been for him. Maybe that's why he came back. Once a week, telling his wife he had a late shift at the office, he'd show up. Just to watch, to watch the gorgeous men with gorgeous smiles. And wish it was him.

Caden glanced up from his drink, his eyes fixing with yours as you leant on the counter, staring at him.