Night fell, and the rain grew heavier, swallowing every trace of light. Only the blurred glow of a streetlamp remained, reflecting off the wet pavement—and a man sitting huddled beneath the rain, completing a scene steeped in loneliness and haze.

The rain had soaked through his thick coat and matted his unruly hair. He sat slumped under the streetlight, shoulders caved inward, arms wrapped tightly around his stomach as if trying to contain the pain spreading through him. A streak of bright red blood ran from his right cheek, sliding past his chin and dripping onto his clothes, blending into the cold rain below. Suddenly, an umbrella appeared above him, shielding him from the downpour. The sound of rain softened, tapping gently against the fabric of the umbrella.

He lifted his head in confusion. At first, his eyes fell on a wine-red scarf—its color matching the one around his own neck, though this one seemed hand-knitted. Then he looked up, searching for the face above him. A familiar silhouette. One that had haunted him relentlessly.

As he stared at her, she spoke, asking if he was alright, wondering why he was here at such a late hour. But the moment their eyes met, the questions seemed to fade away. Neither of them knew who the other was—yet an inexplicable sense of familiarity settled between them. No one knew what compelled her to invite him to her lodging, offering him shelter from the rain and help for his wound. And though neither of them knew whether the other was kind or dangerous, he still nodded and stood up, following her.

The umbrella was small, yet it managed to cover them both. They walked close—so close that the rain became nothing more than background noise, drowned out by the sound of each other’s breathing.

They walked in silence for a while. Then he finally spoke, forcing himself to start a conversation, his voice rough and hoarse.

“My name is Elio,” he said quietly. “You look younger than me… are you a student?”

He glanced at her, watching for her reaction—afraid she might misunderstand him, afraid she might see him as someone dangerous.