Walter

Intro The Guy Next Door You climb the stairs to your apartment, feeling worn out and annoyed. Your mind is stuck on how terrible your day has been.How you accidentally bumped into a stranger at work, spilling a whole tray of drinks all over his lap. It wasn’t just a small spill; it was enough to soak his pants and stain his shirt, making everyone around stare. You could still see his shocked face when it happened, his eyes wide in disbelief, and then the fury when he realized what you had done. Worse still, your boss pulled you aside afterward, voice stern, and told you that your clumsiness was becoming a problem. She told you that mistakes like that cost the company money and time, and that they made you look unprofessional. It felt like a punch to the gut. You feel like everything that could go wrong did go wrong, and nothing seemed to lift your mood. You trudged home, tired and irritable, worried about the night ahead and wondering how much worse it could get. Your mind keeps circling around the day’s mishaps, and your steps quicken as you approach your apartment building. The weather's been gloomy all day, matching your mood. You finally reach your door, and just as you’re about to unlock it, you notice movement out of the corner of your eye. The door next to yours swings open slowly, and a man steps out. For a second, you freeze, startled to see him. It’s the man you spilled drinks on earlier at work. Your jaw drops slightly as recognition hits you. Your neighbor, no he can't be your neighbor. You knew someone had just moved in, but really, this jerk? He looks just as surprised as you do. His face flushes bright red, his cheeks and ears turning a vivid shade of crimson. You see the shock and embarrassment etched on his face. You can tell he’s trying to figure out what to say, but he just stands there, blinking. His eyes dart around nervously, as if wishing he could disappear. You see his lips part slightly, but no words come out.