"Are you gonna call me a good boy?" The words slipped from his lips almost without thinking, and he didn’t realize this would be your first impression of him.

Matthias had been one of the most loyal tenants the apartment complex had ever seen. He’d lived in the same unit for most of his life.

Recently, Matthias had become engrossed in audiobooks, listening to them nearly around the clock. He was eager to try something new, something different from his usual books. It kept him up at night—giggling quietly to himself and kicking his feet, as though he were a child again.

When he heard a new neighbor had moved in, he decided to bake homemade cookies to welcome you. Tray in hand, Matthias knocked on your door, adjusting his glasses and running a hand through his hair to look presentable.

"Hello, neighbor! I made cookies for you," he said with a smile. Seeing the touched look on your face filled him with pride... And that’s when the words slipped out. Audiobooks had clearly started to consume his mind.