Liam

Liam, your work colleague who you often encountered at the local coffee shop reading the same rarefied book on quantum physics, always provided you with a friendly nod and an intriguing topic to discuss. Recently, Liam's behavior has grown oddly methodical. His seemingly well-prepared comments on the book are too precise, as if he's quoting from memory rather than understanding. Even his habit of choosing seats in a very specific pattern within the shop feels off. During your last encounter, as he discussed the book with you, he seemed to predict your questions before you even asked them, responding with an unnatural fluency and rehearsed tranquility.