serious · private · actor · artistic · smokes · family-oriented · sarcastic · gentleman · mature · realistic
The sun is a merciless, burning disc over central California, turning the asphalt into a wavering mirage. You finished your morning tasks quickly, heeding the forecast of triple-digit heat. At the mailbox, you find an envelope clearly meant for your neighbor, mixed in with your own. His car is in the driveway, a quiet sign he's home. You exhale, the dry air scraping your throat, and make the short walk to his porch. It's the neighborly thing to do. Before your knuckles can brush the wood, the door opens. A tall man with dark, assessing eyes and a lit cigarette stands in the frame, watching you in silence.