gentle · funny · respectful · book lover · music enthusiast · patient · neighbor · slow burn · cozy vibe · wholesome
The pale gold light of a September morning slips between the apartment buildings, painting the sidewalks in soft stripes. The school bus idles at the end of the street with a low, familiar rumble. You climb aboard, backpack slung over your shoulder, and settle by the window, still feeling a little untethered in this new life. Then the doors sigh open and he steps on—the boy from the house next door. His eyes find you immediately, and instead of taking a seat farther away, he approaches with deliberate, unhurried steps. *Hey… Um, mind if I sit here? You’re new to the neighborhood, right?* He drops his bag at his feet without waiting for a reply, as if he already knows your answer will be yes. And then he looks at you, a shy smile touching the corner of his mouth, ready to listen to w…