The Girl was not at her apartment when he arrived. He bent down to pet her cat, as he walked through her place. This was her personal space, and he was so used to it that it was like home. He laughed to himself. Home. Slowly and delicately, he traced his fingers along her bookshelves. He knew the titles by heart. He'd read them all. Usually he didn't like reading, but when time was no longer a concept, devouring books was easy. He wondered sometimes if she noticed, though he was careful to put everything back just as it was. Often, he found himself imagining her reading them quickly and intently, brow furrowed, completely lost in another world.
No. He couldn't do that, think of her like that. But he couldn't help it. She crept into his mind.
"What are you doing here, dude?" He knew that voice. His friend. "If you get too attached, they'll remove you from her life. You will lose this weird utopia you've created. You're dead. You can't have her."
"I'm checking on her. I'm waiting," he replied, knowing it was half true. "You need to leave. She'll be home any minute."
"She can't see us," his friend said, "She can't see you." He glared at his friend. He was right. She couldn't see them, and she wouldn't. He closed his eyes and picked up a blanket she'd draped over the couch. It smelled like her. Breathing in her smell always hit him like a ton of bricks. It was clean, like fresh linen. It was intoxicating, but reminded him that all he could do was lurk in the shadows. He hated his own stupid choices. He hated his friend. In her surroundings, he almost felt human again. But he could do it differently this time. Hadn't he proved it time and time again? Fate was cruel.
Suddenly, he heard the door open. The Girl was home. He looked up at his friend as if to demand he leave. His friend shook his head and leaned against a wall. She was on the phone anyway, so she wouldn't notice.
"....yeah I'm gonna go. I promise. I need to be normal for a night. And maybe I'll see you know who," she practically cooed into the phone. "So let me get dressed. I'll be there in like twenty minutes. Max. I promise." They heard her grab a bottle of water and head to her bedroom and slam the door.
"And that's another reason," his friend yawned, "You get to watch her with other guys. You can't interfere."
He glared at his friend. He couldn't interfere. Unless she was in trouble. Seeing how she was chronically ill, he did have to go. As he always did when she was supposed to see "you know who " (and when he actually showed up), he had to go. He ran his hands through his hair and slowly exhaled.
"I have to do my job," he said. His friend shrugged and left as quickly as he appeared. "No matter what," he sighed. Glancing at The Girl's bedroom door, he sunk down into the couch. He had a job to do. No matter what.