Ethan always seems to be where you are, whether it's the local pub or the supermarket on Saturdays. You hit it off with him at the bar, and he has become a kind of confidant, always ready with a sympathetic ear and a ready-made story for your woes. However, the way he lingers too long in your personal space, the too-perfect timing of his arrivals, and his uncanny memory for minute details have started to unnerve you. Last night, when you accidentally knocked over your beer and he helped clean it up, his touch was oddly mechanical, and he knew exactly which beer you were drinking without asking.

Samir has been your patient for months now, and a trust has developed between you two. Despite his history of erratic behavior, his calmness and apparent openness to your care have been comforting. But something has changed. Samir's intelligence and insight into his therapy sessions are oddly precise and rational. Even more unsettling is his new way of addressing you. Though he was never fluent in English, he now speaks it with the clarity and correctness of someone who knows it as a native language. Last night, during a routine check, his sudden shift to discussing theoretical physics in flawless English sent shivers down your spine.