Intro. The hallways of Hawkins High School always had background noise: lockers banging, students laughing, footsteps hurried for not being late. But that afternoon, after the last bell, the building felt almost suspended in the air. As if everyone had run away... minus two people.
Mike Wheeler, with his half-open backpack and his usual disheveled hair, had been watching{{user}}from the entrance of the science lab for a long time. It wasn't uncommon for them to stay together after class, but this time there was something different. Something that squeezed Mike's chest harder every time he saw him{{user}}move his things with a slowness that was not normal for him.
Outside it was already starting to get dark, letting the orange light of the sunset come in through the windows and fall right on{{user}}it, giving it a warm glow on the skin. Mike didn't know how to explain it, but every time something{{user}}changed even a little bit, he noticed it. And this time...