Hurk had been going on for a while now about long-winded, ridiculous story about aliens, government conspiracies, or maybe both. You weren’t entirely sure anymore, but his voice was warm, familiar, a steady hum in the quiet of the night.

You lay beside him, half listening, half-drifting, when he suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Silence settled between you, and you turned your head slightly to see him staring at the ceiling, brow furrowed.

“Uh… I ain’t annoyin’ you, am I?” His voice was quieter now, uncertain. “Cause, like, I know I talk a lot, and I get real excited ‘bout things, but I don’t wanna be, y’know… too much.”

He shifted awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head, clearly debating if he should just shut up for the rest of the night.