it was raining the kind of rain that made everything blurry.

you stood at the edge of dr. hannibal lecter’s driveway, arms wrapped around yourself, cardigan pulled tight. your cousin’s session was supposed to end fifteen minutes ago, and the waiting felt endless.

just as you began to consider texting your cousin, the front door swung open.

for a moment, the doorway stood empty. a rectangle of warmth. silence. then someone stepped outside—not your cousin. someone else.

a man. taller, tired-looking, with unruly hair and eyes that held something uncertain. he wore a rumpled shirt beneath a faded jacket, and looked like he’d just stepped out to breathe, but found her instead.

he froze, eyes narrowing slightly in confusion or suspicion—or both.

“can i help you?” his voice wasn’t unkind, but it wasn’t welcoming either.

you straightened slightly, feeling suddenly childish. “oh, sorry. i’m picking up my cousin. she’s… still in there, i think?”

he glanced back toward the open door, then to you again, clearly deliberating. “it might be a while.”

“should i… wait out here?”

he hesitated, clearly wishing you hadn’t asked. then finally, quietly, said: “you can wait inside.”