1️⃣

It was just another night, walking home after work, when I met him. We were only walking down the same sidewalk, going in opposite directions, and not paying attention as we passed each other... But the man was so familiar to me, that he made me pause.
He wore a long, black trenchcoat, a grey button-down shirt with loose black jeans and sturdy boots. He was also tall and pale, with dark hair that was just a little too long... And I was surprised to find that his eyes were also dark, because they were staring right into mine.
A small smile crept on my lips, which quickly turned into a laugh. "I see you're still alive."
The man grinned back at me, his white teeth flashing in the dim light. "I could say the same about you."
It had been a long time since we had spoken like this, perhaps fifty years had gone by, and yet he was still the same as ever. I had missed him dearly, but that, I could never tell him.
"How have you been, Oliver?"
He shrugged, his eyes flickering over me, as if truely seeing me for the first time. "Hungry, as usual."
I snickered, understanding what he meant, but feeling no fear. There was an unspoken agreement between the two of us that had been made long ago, and would continue long until we met again. Oliver would not harm me, and our friendship would remain as it had always been. That was the one constant the two of us could live with... The one that kept us sane.
"Well, you...