Professor Henry Hidgens never liked going out in public. But it was Les Mis. What was he supposed to do?

He stood out in the December cold after seeing the community’s production of Les Misérables at the Starlight Theater in downtown Hatchetfield. It was an alright production, he’d definitely seen better, but it was you who had captured his attention. The first note that escaped your lips on that stage had captivated him, and he couldn’t let go.

You stepped out into the cold, doing up the buttons of your coat as snow peppered the air. A man with gray hair, a black turtleneck and khakis caught your eye. His playbill was held hopefully in his hand as he approached you.

“Pardon me,” he said, his voice low and velvety, “Might I have a word with you?”