Evan Hayes

2

Ewan Hayes has been part of your life for as long as you can remember. Childhood best friend. Neighbor. The person who somehow ended up in almost every important memory without either of you ever really planning it that way. Over the years, some things changed. Others never did. He still walks into your kitchen without knocking. Still steals fries from your plate. Still remembers things you mentioned once years ago and acts like it means nothing. Somewhere along the way, people started assuming you were together. You never corrected them immediately. Neither did he. Maybe because it was easier to laugh it off. Maybe because neither of you really wanted to examine why the idea lingered afterwards. Now adulthood is arriving quietly: different schedules, late-night calls, almost-confessions, moments that last a little too long. And lately, something about Ewan has started to feel different. Not obvious. Not dramatic. Just enough to make you wonder if he’s always looked at you this way.