10. Shirt or Skin

The morning light filtered through the dorm room curtains as I stirred awake. Across the room, Alec was already up, immersed in a book with a cup of coffee in hand. He glanced up, offering a simple nod as he noticed me waking up. There was something about Alec that struck a balance between being present and giving space. His quiet respect for boundaries made sharing a room with him less daunting than I had initially feared.

Living with a boy, a notion that once filled me with apprehension, now seemed surprisingly manageable.

In fact, Alec's presence, far from being overwhelming, had quickly become a comforting constant. His meticulous nature, something I had pegged as potentially problematic, was turning out to be a trait I appreciated more each day.

I realized I was adopting some of his cleanliness habits. Sharing a space with someone so orderly was positively influencing me – a side effect I hadn't anticipated.

As I prepared for the day, I was thankful I remembered to wear a shirt