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"Anyway," Tobias breathes into the silence, "I'd better get back. I just wanted to say hi."
"Yeah…well, hi," you say. You give him a little wave as he gets to his feet. He returns it, and still facing you, he starts walking backwards over the road.
"See you around?" he calls, halfway across.
"Sure," you reply. A moment later, all signs of Tobias but the sound of his footsteps are swallowed up by the dark.
You only sit on the wall until you hear his front door swing shut. Then, standing stiffly and stretching your arms, you head for your own door—wondering how some things can feel so familiar and so different at the same time.
As you pull out your keys for the second time (whispering "Remember the step" over and over), you decide that's one of many things you're going to worry about in the morning.
Chapter Two: Second Thoughts