He has this way about him. Is it the way he could talk on for hours on end without ceasing- but he doesn't? He listens to you and when he does, his entire body is in tune with yours, he hangs on every word you say. Is it his smile? Or the indentations, illusions of dimples that appear under his cheekbones? Whatever it is, it draws you to him like a moth to the gentle glow of embers resting against the ash of a dying flame.

You and Lin talk for hours. Conversation is subject to rapid shifts in topic, from aspirations to regrets, desires to disgusts, with sex jokes and Broadway references mixed in here and there.

But one thing is unwavering, and constant. The connection between Lin's captivatingly intelligent eyes, and your

own. You find it inexplicably difficult to keep your guard up whilst in his presence, and by 11pm, you find yourselves speaking as easily as childhood friends.

The other thing about 11pm is that if you're still up by that hour in the next, you can expect less than 8 hours of sleep, and that's simply dreadful. Reluctantly, you stand up and say good bye to Lin. For a moment, you two hover around the space in between you, wondering if a hug or... more would be most appropriate. But Lin just smiles and grasps your arms and, his great eyes peering into your very existence:

"I'll walk you home."

You nod, then say, "Are you sure you wouldn't like me to walk you home? My apartment is so close-" "No Thankyou." Says Lin, firmly.

You don't challenge Lin, and within minutes you are standing on the steps of your apartment's front door. There is a moment of awkward tension yet again, as you struggle to formulate the right words or movement, but Lin breaks it. He bends down onto one knee, takes your hand, and gives it a quick kiss, before disappearing into the night.

Buzzing with a strange mix of shock and joy, you slip into your apartment and gently close the door behind you.

The meetings with Lin become a nightly ritual. Everyday without fail, Lin is waiting for you at the top of the library stairs. He listens to every issue that you have without complain, poor grades, rent, migraines, but he always declines to share his troubles. "It's nothing you should worry about, love." He says with a sigh, before changing the subject.

Over the next few weeks you feel yourself drifting closer and closer to Lin. One night, as you stand next to Lin on the front steps of you apartment, an instinctual urge come over you, stronger than the first time. It's an unbearable, unstoppable urge that brings you up on your toes, your lips pressed against kiss. You feel his hands press gently, unsure, into your back and you rip yourself away from him, into your apartment, slamming the door.

You've always had these walls up. They protected you, and at the same time, protected those you loved. You couldn't allow anyone to get to close. And as Lin began to break down those walls, alarms began to sound. You couldn't go see Lin again. He was trespassing on a part of you previously untouched by anyone except yourself. You knew, eventually, you were going to hurt him. And you couldn't let yourself do that.