Mornings in New Eridu were loud.
Students rushed to school, and office workers hurried to their jobs. Stores began to reopen. Voices overlapped—energy was everywhere.
William walked through it all quietly. His white hair caught the sunlight, and his calm eyes observed everything as if it were new. Because it was.
"…People really live like this every day," he murmured.
Inside his mind, Alex's voice echoed. "You'll get used to it."
"…I don't want to get used to it," William replied softly.
"…Why?"
William looked at the students laughing nearby. "…Because it feels important."
Silence. Alex didn't respond, but he was watching.
The Classroom
William always arrived early to class. He took the same seat near the window; he liked watching the world outside. The movement. The life.
Then, a familiar voice: "…You're early again?"
Ellen Joe dropped into the seat in front of him. "Do you even sleep?" she asked, resting her chin on her hand.
"…I do."
"…Doesn't look like it."
William smiled faintly. "…You always come to talk to me."
Ellen paused. "…No, I don't."
"…You do."
"…Tch. Don't assume things." But she didn't move.
During class, the teacher droned on. Students pretended to listen. Ellen spun her pen lazily, but William was actually paying attention.
"…You're seriously listening?" she whispered.
"Yes."
"…Why?"
"…Because I don't know it yet."
"…That's boring."
"…Learning isn't boring."
"…Yeah, it is."
William thought for a moment. "…Then why are you still here?"
Ellen froze. "…You talk a lot for someone quiet."
"…Only when it matters."
She looked away. "…Annoying." But her lips curved slightly.
The Rooftop
They never planned to eat lunch together. It just happened almost every day. Same spot. Same silence.
"…You don't talk much," Ellen said, opening her lunch.
"…You talk enough for both of us."
"…Wow. So I'm noisy now?"
"…A little."
"…You've got some nerve."
William looked at her lunch, then quietly pushed part of his toward her.
"…What's this?"
"…You didn't bring enough."
"…I did."
"…You didn't eat yesterday either."
Ellen blinked. "…You noticed?"
"…Yes."
She stared at the food, then took it. "…Don't make it a habit."
"…Okay."
But the next day—she came again.
The Routine
After school, they walked home together. Every day. There was no agreement and no discussion. Just the same direction.
"…You're following me," Ellen said.
"…Our paths are the same."
"…Convenient."
"…Yes."
The silence between them wasn't empty.
Small Changes
Days passed. William remained the same: always calm, kind, and quiet. But Ellen changed slowly.
She waited for him in class. She looked for him during breaks. She walked slower… just slightly.
"…You're late," she said one morning.
"…By two minutes."
"…That's late."
"…You were waiting."
"…I wasn't."
"…You were."
"…Shut up." But she smiled.
The Realization
One afternoon, William laughed. Just a little. It was over something small, but it was real.
Ellen froze. Her chest tightened slightly. "…What was that?"
"…What?"
"…That."
"…I laughed."
"…You do that?"
"…Sometimes."
She looked away quickly. "…Do it less."
"…Why?"
"…It's weird."
But inside, something shifted. Something unfamiliar. Something warm.
"…Idiot," she muttered quietly.
As the sun set, they walked side by side again. Nothing dramatic. Nothing intense. Just two people sharing space. And somehow, that felt like enough.
Inside his mind, Alex watched. "…So this is what 'normal' looks like."
For the first time, he didn't find it boring.