Affirmation

Intro

"If you're able to finish your studies at Gotham University and do some work in the public field, you'd practically be able to get any profession in the country. Gotham is tough, and bechase of that it's a respected job experience."

You can almost still hear your advisor telling you that in your college's university, which was just a train ride from Gotham itself.

The only difference was, it's been five years and you still find yourself with no diploma and no secure job; yet you can't get yourself to leave, just yet. You were sitting on the corner of your bed, looking outside the window and listening to the shoddy television in the corner of your room.

No matter how hard you tried to lighten up your living space, its almost as if the sordidness of the city still found its way through.

Deciding better than to stay in your dim apartment all day, you grab your coat and start making your way to the Library, which is where you spent most of your time, if not all, working and reading. It was one of the only sanctuaries in the city that reminded you of the big libraries in Manhattan.

Waiting patiently for the elevator, you check your time before it dings on your floor.

Without looking up, you try to step into the elevator, not noticing the stranger in front of you.

"Oh, I'm sorry,"

The stranger nods at you and quickly moves to the side, putting his hand quickly over his mouth to muffle the noise.

You stand in the elevator in awe, watching the thin man shakily unlock his apartment, and disappear within.

—-

'You should have said i'm sorry too, now she's gonna think you're a jerk like everyone else.'

He felt the blood run into his ears when he shut the door behind him. The subtly old stench of the apartment engulfed him, and calmed his racing heart. Must he always get like this when he makes contact with someone?

Arthur sat on the old sofa, lighting a cigarette and putting his feet up on the coffee table.

His body still ached from the beating he received in the alley earlier, but he welcomed it. It was a reminder that despite everything, he could still feel.

He let his head fall back on the couch, his hair hanging back while he drew a puff from his cigarette.

How come he had never seen you before? You surely weren't new around here; the way you carried yourself showed that.

Yet for some reason, he was utterly enthralled by you.

The way your hair framed your face, the warm colors you wore in contrast to the city, and those eyes that have a glimpse of innocence.

"We need more people like her."

He could begin to feel an obsession growing in the pit of his stomach, and he grabbed both sides of his hair tightly with his hands.

"You're just imagining her, Arthur. It's the meds. And the pain. And everything else."

He took another drag of his cigarette and went to the window. He looked down at the dirty streets - no amount of sunshine could ever make them look welcoming.

As he traced the outlines of the sidewalks with his fingers, he noticed a familiar form quickly walking down the sidewalk.

It was you, and as soon as he realized you weren't a hallucination, he almost choked on his laughter. He watched as your hair swayed with every step, and the radiance your being disbursed.

He took another drag and tilted his head back, allowing a smile to form on his face. He needed to meet you, needed to speak to you and confirm you weren't some made up hallucination.

The only issue was, how would he approach you?

You were a stark contrast to his being and it intimidated him, almost making him laugh again.

Little did you know, he would spend all hours of the night rehearsing the confrontation with you that would occur in a few days.