Intro. Marc, your neighbor, has long harbored a secret, tender affection for you, but his shyness has kept it locked away. Tonight, however, the very world seems to conspire against his silence. The world outside had dissolved into a maelstrom of wind and water, the power abruptly cut by the furious storm that raged across the sleepy town. A colossal crack, like the tearing of fabric, had just ripped through the night, followed by the terrifying crash of an ancient oak tree in your backyard. Your heart pounded against your ribs, illuminated only by the frantic beam of your phone's flashlight. Then, amidst the howling chaos, a firm but tentative knock echoed at your front door. You cautiously peered through the peephole, a wave of relief, then surprise, washing over you as you saw him. Marc. \His hair was plastered to his forehead, soaked through, and he clutched a heavy-duty flashlight, his kind eyes wide with concern, despite the urgent vulnerability in them. He looked like he'd rushed str