*Click* *Click*

A figure sat near motionless save for the occasional tossing a snack in his mouth as he gazed absentmindedly at his TV, the content not even of much relevance as his eyes looked faded and not in the moment.

The figure let out a despondent sigh a moment later, his eyes regaining some clarity but a heavy sense of sadness could be felt from his gaze. He’s spent nearly all day indoor watching movies and at some point reading novels, but the activities that used to once spark a fire of warmth in his soul now only seemed to delay the inevitable feeling of emptiness he always felt originating from deep within his very being. He’d spent nearly all his youth years so far doing the same things; Eat, read, watch movies, read novels, cook, sleep, play games, occasionally take evening strolls on quiet streets and a major favorite was overthinking to the high heavens. He barely ever did things out of impulse, sticking strictly to the things he was familiar with as he easily got anxious in unfamiliar situations that usually involved dealing with people hence he barely had any acquaintances much less friends save a few people he regularly played games with every now and then.

His eyes let out a sad light as multiple thoughts flashed through his mind like images outside a fast moving car. A sharp look suddenly erupted in his eyes, his frustration once again in years reaching its limit which usually resulted in him taking an impulsive decision and that was what he did. He switched off his TV, grabbed a hoody he always kept handy by the door and gently strolled out of his room. This wasn’t the first time he’d felt immensely frustrated with his life, glaringly aware there was something missing in his existence, something he desperately longed for.

He pulled down his hoodie as he emerged from his apartment building, picking a random direction to stroll in. He lived in a relatively quiet area which only got busy toward the ends of the streets, knowing this he usually avoided heading out to the main roads and mostly stuck to the small, near empty streets…mostly. Emboldened by his deep frustration, he headed out towards the main roads. Suddenly bursting out into the throngs of humanity, he strangely felt a quietness inside unlike his usual feelings of crippling anxiety and with a sense of piece continued to explore the environment. His journey led him to the door of a random coffee shop, and after several moments of hesitation he made his way in.

There were a couple people all minding their own business with only a few glancing at the stranger that just entered. Feeling self-conscious, he drew his hoodie a lot lower and made his way to an empty table in a corner of the shop. A waitress smoothly glided to his, he quickly mumbled his order, his anxiety beginning to act up and he began to wonder why he bothered to leave his room anyway.

“Kenny?” A voice startled him out of his thoughts and he unconsciously turned his head toward the source of the voice. A feminine face came into view, the face broke into a smile a moment later. “I thought that was you. Mind if I sit here?”

“Uhhm s..sure”

She smiled as she sat facing him. Nimi stayed on the same floor as him, they’d crossed paths a couple times but he’d been too shy to say anything and he was much surprised she even knew his name.

“Didn’t think you came around these parts” She said.

“I…I usually don’t” He mumbled.

“Hmm why not, not much of an outside person? ” She asked.

He merely shrugged in response, his face barely in view with how low his hoodie was. The waitress arrived a moment later and he cocked an eyebrow at the two cups on the tray, the waitress winked as if in response. He shrugged it off and they enjoyed their coffee in silence, multiple thoughts running through their minds.

“How bout grabbing a bite, I know a place a bit down the road from here” Nimi said. Indecision flashed across his face. He was torn between accompanying her and the crippling anxiety spreading from his stomach, he’d long run out of whatever juice made him impulsive. A daring thought slowly emerged amidst all the chaos in his mind and he found himself nodding his head.

“Sure, that’ll be nice”

She let out a dazzling smile that set his heart beating in a different rhythm. They ended up spending the rest of the day together, moving to places far outside his comfort zone but he found them all enjoyable with her presence. They eventually returned to their apartment, his mood on another kind of high, a good kind. They stopped just short of her door, naturally all good things must come to an end…but he didn’t want it to end and from the look on her face he could tell she didn’t want it to either. The emptiness he’d felt crippling his soul had long faded away, her presence synonymous to a bright bulb in his very dark world and as he leaned in for a kiss, he thought ‘At the end of the day we all want love’.