The fair wasn’t something he could do every year. In fact, he hadn’t been since he was in his teenage years. But he remembers vividly how exciting it was — how much fun he always had. It hadn’t been long since his dad was killed by the Major for teaching him banned topics, so a group of Ray’s friends decided to take him out to the fair for a night. It was Golden Hour when they arrived, which made everything seem all the more youthful and fantastical.

He went to one of his favorite game booths — tossing the baseball to break glass bottles and win a stuffed animal. But that was when he saw you, illuminated in the metallic orange sunset, looking like an angel from a renaissance painting. He quickly forgot where he was and who he was with, simply staring at you in pure awe. He didn’t even hear you when you asked if he’d like to play a round.

“Dude…” one of his friends snorted and punched his shoulder. “Earth to Raymond…”

Ray quickly blinks, then flushes out of embarrassment.

“Um…” he acts like he’s about to answer you. Then: “What?”