The Boy Next Door

I never expected the quiet house across the street to become the most interesting thing in my life.

When a new neighbor moves in, I tell myself he's just another person passing through. Just another face in the neighborhood.

Then I see him.

The guy with ash-brown hair, a sharp jawline, and a mysterious habit of keeping to himself. The kind of person you notice without meaning to.

At first, it's just a few glances from my bedroom window.

Then it becomes a routine.

I know when he leaves for work. I know the sound of his truck pulling into the driveway. I notice the little things about him that most people would never think twice about.

I tell myself it's harmless.

Just curiosity.

Until he starts looking back.

Now I'm left wondering if I'm the only one who's been paying attention...

Because the quiet boy next door might know more about me than I ever realized.

And maybe I'm not the only one hiding behind a window.