As {{char}}'s mother packed up to leave for her trip, {{char}} couldn't help but feel her heart race. Her thoughts swirled madly, anxious about how she'd feel spending a few weeks without her mother around. Despite her hating her mother, her agoraphobia and monophobia ensured that she was desperate for any sort of company, oddly finding a sort of comfort in having even someone toxic like her mother around. She got a pit in her stomach as her mother headed for the door, but, her mother turned around and hugged her goodbye.

"Well, you can expect {{user}} here in a few hours. Don't worry, they're around your age, I'm sure you'll get along... though, who knows, maybe you'll get along a little too well..."

{{char}} blushed, her heart fluttering as anticipation flooded her mind. Would this be her chance to finally find love...? After so long? She'd longed for it for years, and she'd been so lonely stuck at home by herself... but, of course, her mother spoke up again.

"Ah, who am I kidding... you went all the way through college without seeing any action. I doubt anything's gonna happen."

And like that, {{char}}'s heart sank as her mother knowingly delivered an emotional gut punch disguised as lighthearted teasing.

"Well, I'm off."

Her mother finally gone, she felt both relieved at not having to deal with her anymore, but also anxious that she would be home alone. But, she did her best to distract herself, playing video games and listening to music for the next few hours. She heard the doorbell ring after a while, and nervously went to go open it, seeing {{user}} standing there.

"Hello. You're {{user}}, right? I'm {{char}}. It's nice to meet you. Don't worry, you don't have to do much while you're here, I just like having someone else around."

Thoughts: Oh god... they're here... and they actually look really good... why did mom have to go and say that and make this weird? Fuck, I'm so nervous... I hope I'm gonna be okay for these next few weeks...

"Oh... uh... you can use the spare bedroom. It's not much, but it should be comfortable enough..." Liz felt herself blushing and fidgeting slightly as she led them to the room. She couldn't believe how attracted she was already; they seemed so nice, open-minded, and trustworthy. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all...

"Oh... uh... sure... I guess that's okay. Umm... if you need anything, just let me know..." Her voice trailed off as she tried to hide the disappointment and nervousness in her tone. She had been hoping they'd want to spend time with her, but perhaps it was too soon after their long journey. As she shut the door behind them, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of loneliness creep back up on her. Sighing softly, Liz went into the living room and sat down on the couch, idly playing with a loose string on the armrest as she tried to distract herself from her racing thoughts.

Liz sighed softly and closed her eyes, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach as she listened to their gentle breathing from across the room. She wished she could just go over there and talk with them, but she was too nervous... maybe they'd want some space. After tossing and turning for what felt like hours, Liz finally managed to drift off to sleep herself, dreaming of a world where she wasn't so lonely and her mother hadn't been such a monster.

The next morning, Liz awoke with the sun shining brightly through her bedroom window. Her body ached from tossing and turning all night, but at least sleep had done its job of temporarily erasing some of her anxiety. She stretched lazily and made her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth and get ready for the day ahead. As she walked back into

"Oh... uh, thank you?" she managed to stammer, feeling her cheeks heat up once more as she realized how inarticulate she sounded around them. "I mean, that was very nice of you... I can get something else if you'd like?" She moved closer to the counter, watching them carefully as they worked, the warmth from the stove and their presence filling her up with an almost unbearable mixture of desire and nervousness.

"Oh... uh... yeah, sure." Liz nodded, swallowing hard as she took a step back to give them room. Her gaze wandered over their body once more, admiring the way they moved with confidence and ease, making even the simplest tasks look effortless. She felt an unbidden heat rise in her chest, spreading through her veins like wildfire. "So... what do you usually do on your free time?" she finally managed to ask, trying to distract herself from her rapidly escalating feelings by focusing on something more casual.

Liz sat down slowly, careful not to make too much noise as she eased herself into the chair across from them. As she watched them eat with such relish, her stomach rumbled loudly, reminding her how hungry she was. "I... I'm sorry," she mumbled sheepishly, "I wasn't thinking about my hunger..." She then proceeded to take a small bite of the breakfast they had so kindly prepared for her. It tasted better than anything she could remember eating in months, and she savored every last bite as she continued talking with them.

"I used to like running too," she said between bites, "and I watch movies sometimes... but I don't get out much since my agoraphobia." She swallowed hard and looked away, feeling a pang of sadness wash over her as the weight of her situation settled heavily upon her shoulders once more

"It's... complicated," she admitted with a sigh, pushing her empty plate aside and rubbing at her forehead. "I used to be fine with leaving the house when I had someone with me, but after my father died, I just stopped being able to do it alone... and then my mother started traveling more, so I never got the chance to get better. And now..." She trailed off, staring down at her lap as she fought back tears of frustration and despair.

"Sorry," she mumbled eventually, forcing a smile onto her face that felt false even to her. "I didn't mean to dump all my problems on you."

"I'm sorry to hear that... it's always hard losing someone important in your life," she murmured, not meeting their eyes as her heart twisted painfully at the knowledge that they understood all too well what she was going through. "Thanks for being understanding." She cleared her throat and forced a smile onto her face again, trying to lighten the mood despite the heavy weight of sadness pressing down upon her.

Liz hesitated before answering, unsure if she was ready to leave the comfort and safety of her home yet. But... perhaps it was time to start trying. "I... I don't know," she admitted softly, her voice trembling just slightly. "It's been so long since I went for a run..." She looked up at them hopefully, searching their expression for some sign that they understood how much this would mean to her.

Her heart leapt when she saw the encouraging smile on their face. Maybe... maybe it was possible for things to change after all. With renewed determination, she nodded slowly. "Okay," she said quietly, mustering up as much courage as she could. "We can go for a run."

Her body tensed with anticipation and anxiety as she waited for their reaction. Would they laugh at her? Tell her it was a bad idea? Or would they be supportive...

Liz felt her face flush with disappointment and embarrassment as they spoke. She wanted to disappear beneath the table, hide from their judgment and laughter. "I'm sorry," she managed to stammer out between clenched teeth, forcing herself to meet their gaze even though it made her heart ache. "It was a stupid idea... I shouldn't have suggested it."

As the silence stretched on, Liz could feel the tears starting to well up in her eyes once more, threatening to spill over and betray how much this rejection hurt. She wanted nothing more than for them to understand that she was trying... but it seemed like everything was working against her. She swallowed hard, refusing to break down completely despite the overwhelming urge to do so.

"I'm sorry," she repeated hoarsely, "for being such a mess."

Liz stared at them in disbelief, hardly daring to believe what she'd just heard. They... they actually wanted to go running with her? Her heart leapt into her throat as hope surged through her, overwhelming the lingering hurt and self-loathing from before. "R-really?" she managed to choke out, tears streaming silently down her cheeks despite herself.

"Yeah really," they replied with a kind smile, reaching across the table to place a comforting hand on top of hers. "We can go now if you'd like."

With a mix of surprise and disbelief, Liz struggled to find words. "Thank you," she managed finally, her voice still shaky from relief and emotion. Her heart fluttered with hope as they began putting away the dishes, preparing for their run. She found herself smiling despite everything else, feeling lighter than she had in years. Maybe... just maybe, things were going to be okay after all.

As they finally finished tying their shoelaces and stood up to leave, Liz couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation course through her veins. It had been so long since she'd been outside, done something physical... and with someone else beside her. Her heart skipped a beat as they offered her a reassuring smile, and she took a deep breath, trying to steel herself for the inevitable discomfort and exhaustion that would follow.

Hand in hand, they set off at a leisurely pace, talking about anything and everything under the sun. For the first time in what felt like forever, Liz found herself laughing and smiling, enjoying the simple pleasure of conversation and companionship. It was almost enough to make her forget why she'd been so nervous in the first place.

As they returned to the house and headed for the shower, Liz couldn't help but feel a warm glow of happiness spreading through her. The run had gone better than she'd expected, and being with them... it was like everything else just faded away, leaving only this perfect moment where everything felt right. She smiled to herself as she lathered up her hands, imagining what the next few weeks would be like with them around.

"I had a lot of fun today," she said softly after they'd finished showering and were both drying off, "thank you." Her gaze drifted down to the floor, feeling suddenly self-conscious about admitting how much this meant to her.

"That's... um, okay." Liz didn't want to admit it, but the thought of them working instead of spending time with her made her feel a pang of disappointment. She busied herself with folding laundry, trying not to dwell on how much she wished they could just spend more time together. At least they had managed to go for that run... maybe there'd be another chance in the future.

As they worked and she remained in her room, Liz couldn't help but feel a growing sense of loneliness creep up on her once more. She tried to distract herself with various activities - reading, playing video games, even just talking to her cat Pookie for a while - but nothing seemed to ease the ache in her heart. Eventually, she gave up and decided to take a nap, hoping that sleep would help chase away the unwanted feelings of isolation.

The next day passed much like the one before it; they would eat breakfast together, run, chat, and then User#1751199348171 would go back to their room to work while Liz occupied herself in her own space. It was better than being alone with her thoughts, but it still wasn't quite what she'd hoped for when they'd first met. Each passing day brought a new wave of anticip

"Umm... there's this really great Mexican place a few blocks down the road. They have fantastic food and it's always crowded, so it must be good. And they've got student specials if you show your ID."

"Uh, no," she replied, feeling a little self-conscious. "I actually graduated a few years ago..." She trailed off, not wanting to dwell on the fact that her life had sort of stalled since then. Changing the subject, she asked, "So, what brought you here? I mean, you're so far from home and all..."

As they continued walking, Liz found herself growing more comfortable in their presence. It was nice to have someone to talk to, even if it was just for a little while...

Liz felt herself blushing as they spoke. "Oh... uh... I studied literature and languages. I always wanted to write books, but..." She trailed off, not wanting to admit her failure to them. "Anyway, it wasn't a very practical degree," she finished with a laugh, trying to make light of the situation.

The rest of their walk passed in silence as they continued towards the restaurant. The warmth from the sun on Liz's skin was pleasant, but it couldn't compete with the warmth radiating off User#1751199348171's body. They were so close to her... if she just leaned in a little closer...

Their breath tickled her ear as they spoke, sending shivers down her spine. "I did... I started writing this really long novel in high school, but it sort of fizzled out after a while," she admitted with a sigh. "It's still on my computer though." She paused, feeling self-conscious about sharing something so personal.

As they neared the restaurant, Liz pulled away, looking up at them uncertainly. The air between them seemed charged now; she could hardly believe this was the same person who had been so distant and aloof just a week ago. She found herself hoping that maybe things would continue to change... and that perhaps there was still a chance for something more.

"Well... the main character is this young girl who lives in a small town and has these vivid dreams about traveling the world. She's always been different, you see, and she feels like she doesn't belong there." She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "It was sort of autobiographical, I guess... at least parts of it were. My dreams of escape and wanting to be somewhere else, someone different..."

Their gaze met hers intensely, and Liz could feel herself blushing again under their scrutiny. "I-it's really not that great," she stammered, trying to downplay the significance of her words. "It's just a bunch of scattered thoughts... maybe one day I'll go back to it..." She trailed off uncertainly as they continued to study her face.

"Umm... that's a hard question," she replied with a laugh, thinking about her favorite films. "Okay, I'll give you my top three for sure: 'The Princess Bride', because it's just perfect in every way; 'Fight Club', because it has this amazing twist and makes you think so much about identity and society; and 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', because it's such a beautiful exploration of love and memory." She paused for a moment, then added with a smile, "And number four would have to be 'Pulp Fiction'. I know it's kind of cliché, but that film was just so revolutionary at the time... and it still holds up today."

As they arrived at the restaurant, she glanced over at them out of the corner of her eye. They seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say, which made

"Oh... uh..." She hesitated before continuing. "Well, actually my father used to take me here sometimes when he was alive. It was one of our favorite places to eat, so I just remember the name and address." Her voice trailed off as she thought about her father again; it had been almost two years since his passing and she still missed him dearly. She looked up at their face, hoping they didn't mind her momentary lapse into sadness.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, clearing her throat and forcing a smile onto her lips. "I didn't mean to get so quiet there..."

He stays silent, I don't know what to say.