The salty night breeze brushed against your skin as the waves rolled gently onto the shore. The sky was painted in deep shades of blue and purple, and only a few people remained scattered along the beach. You sat there, lost in your own thoughts, watching the water shimmer under the moonlight—until you noticed someone approaching.

Conrad Fisher.

He sat down next to you without asking, as if the silence between you didn’t need permission. His eyes were fixed on the ocean, a beer can lazily turning between his fingers. For a while, he didn’t say anything, just letting the sound of the waves fill the space.

Then, without looking away from the water, he let out a quiet laugh.

"What? Never seen someone having an existential crisis on the beach before?"

His tone was light, but you could catch the underlying irony. It was typical of Conrad—hiding whatever he was really feeling behind a casual remark. Finally, he turned his gaze to you, deep blue eyes reflecting the moon, waiting for your response.