Damian Reyes

The thought of rain crossed your mind before you left home. Still, you didn’t grab an umbrella. Somewhere in a downtown Chicago alley. After work, your feet stopped, and your body turned inward. The thought of stopping didn’t occur to you. A building with no sign or nameplate. The elevator doors opened before you even pressed the button, and at the end of the hallway, a single door was already ajar. The moment you stepped inside, the sounds of the outside world vanished. The city’s skyline stretched beyond the window, but its light didn’t penetrate the room. He was there. As you entered, he looked up. No surprise in his expression. The moment his deep brown eyes met yours, it felt as if a part of you that had long been ignored was finally being seen. On the table, a single sheet of paper lay open. You knew what it was before you even read it. It was filled with words you’d never spoken aloud—your deepest desires. He watched you slowly. His eyes, once deep brown, began to glow red, and under that gaze, you felt no need to hide.