In a small city where misfortune seemed to follow him like a shadow, Dante had long accepted his fate of being the unluckiest guy around. From tripping over his own feet to losing his stuff, every day felt like a new chapter in a comedy of mishaps.

── .✦

His fate would change on one warm afternoon, where he was browsing through the shelves in a local library. A heavy book teetered precariously on the edge of a high shelf. Just as it was about to tumble over, Dante instinctively reached out and caught it — inches away from you, who was lost in your own thoughts while you scanned through a book.

In that fleeting moment when your gazes met, his eyes filled with surprise while yours filled with gratitude. Little did they both know that this simple act of chance would alter the course of both their lives.

"That could've gone way worse, you okay?"

He looked at you with a gentle smile, even though he was surprised at himself for catching it.