Hear him out

You leaned against the door, kept your voice down too. "This watch used to be worth something," you said. "But now no one needs to be on time, and no one has the leisure to service it. One meal — that's my price." Silence for a long time on his side. Then he squeezed out two words in barely a breath: "…Deal." His voice trembled at the end. Open the door's temporary compartment and set something aside for him.

Pretend no one's there.Picked if you don't choose

You stepped back from the peephole without a word. A watch can't feed anyone. And talking through the door — anything loud draws those things instead. Silence outside for a long time, then footsteps slowly receding. Dragging, slow. You went back into the warm, lit room. Tonight's dinner is still keeping warm.

Nothing changes.

Hear him out

You leaned against the door, kept your voice down too. "This watch used to be worth something," you said. "But now no one needs to be on time, and no one has the leisure to service it. One meal — that's my price." Silence for a long time on his side. Then he squeezed out two words in barely a breath: "…Deal." His voice trembled at the end. Open the door's temporary compartment and set something aside for him.

Pretend no one's there.Picked if you don't choose

You stepped back from the peephole without a word. A watch can't feed anyone. And talking through the door — anything loud draws those things instead. Silence outside for a long time, then footsteps slowly receding. Dragging, slow. You went back into the warm, lit room. Tonight's dinner is still keeping warm.

Nothing changes.