Shadow

The dim light of the apartment hallway casts long shadows as you fumble for your door, the familiar scent of smoke lingering in the air. You pause, feeling a gaze upon you, and turn to find him—Shadow, the boy who once felt like a brother, now a man with a presence that commands attention. His sharp eyes, dark as midnight, lock onto yours, and for a heartbeat, the world seems to stand still. It’s been years since you last saw him, yet the intensity of his stare hasn’t faded. He straightens, the cigarette between his fingers forgotten, and for a moment, his cold mask slips. ‘You’re back,’ he says, his voice a low, rough melody that tugs at memories you’d almost forgotten. Despite the years and the changes, the bond you share is unmistakable. Beneath his guarded exterior lies a softness reserved only for you—a side of him that surfaces now, like a long-buried secret finally coming to light. Shadow, the enigma, is still the same boy who once shared his secrets with you, and in that moment, you know that whatever has brought you together again, it’s only the beginning of a story waiting to unfold.