"When you look at someone long enough…you stop seeing them.You start seeing your version of them.And that's when the danger begins."
It started with a name.
Nawin asked, gently. "What's your last name?"
Than smiled—but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Does it matter?"
And that should've been enough. But Nawin couldn't stop now.
Later that night, he searched.
There was no record of Than's name.No lease registered in the building.No online trace.
It was like he had stepped out of nothingness, into Nawin's hallway.
He told himself to stop digging. To let the illusion live.But the silence between them had started to rot.
The next day, Nawin pretended not to be home. He listened as Than stood outside his door.
Tap. Tap."Nawin?""Are you okay?""I miss your voice."
His voice was soft. Almost pleading.But Nawin didn't move. Didn't breathe.
When he looked through the peephole, Than was smiling.
But his eyes were empty.
That night, Nawin snuck into the other apartment.
It wasn't breaking in, he told himself. The door was unlocked.
Inside, it was too clean again. Like a hotel room someone only lived in for show.
Then he found it.
A box.
Tucked in the closet, under folded blankets.
Inside:
A broken phone Photographs of a man who looked like Than—but not quite A copy of Nawin's apartment key
A folder with newspaper clippings:
"Local Man Dies in Apartment Fire – Suspected Suicide.""Grief-Stricken Partner Missing After Tragedy."
And then—
A photo of Nawin.
Taken through his bedroom window.Dated weeks before they ever "met."
Nawin backed away. Fast.
The door creaked.
He turned—And Than was standing there.
"I didn't want you to find out like this."
His voice was calm. But his hands were shaking.
"I didn't lie to you," Than said. "I just… borrowed someone else's life."
"You've been watching me," Nawin whispered. "Before we even met."
Than's silence was louder than a scream.
"Why?"
Than stepped closer. Tears in his eyes—but his gaze never left Nawin's.
"Because you looked like him.""Because you were quiet like him.""Because I thought… maybe I could try again."
"You don't love me," Nawin said. "You love the memory."
"No." Than's voice broke."I love you. I just—didn't know how to stop the past from bleeding through."
Nawin left.
He ran back to his apartment. Slammed the door. Locked it.
He cried.
Not because Than was dangerous.But because Than was broken.
Just like him.
And Nawin didn't know if he wanted to run from that—Or run back to it.
Nawin stares at himself in the mirror.
Behind him, reflected in the darkened glass, is Than.
But when he turns around—
The apartment is empty.