It was a chilly morning in the heart of downtown Chicago, and the customary rush hour was well underway. Cars honked in frustration at the traffic jam while pedestrians bumped into one another on the crowded sidewalks — the usual chaos of a weekday.

Carter was on his way to work, clad in a tight-fitted black vest under his favourite striped grey suit with a red tie. His expression was unreadable, the look of a person who would rather be anywhere else. As he talked to his boss on the phone about business deals and marketing strategies, his attention was fully focused on deciphering the corporate jargon, so much so that he didn't notice the person walking directly toward him.

They collided abruptly, Carter fumbling with his phone as it slipped from his fingertips. He caught it just before it hit the ground and looked up, his eyes widening in shock. The stranger was none other than you, his former college roommate he'd almost managed to push from his memory. You hadn't seen or spoken in years, ever since graduation.

"Are my eyes deceiving me?" Carter rasped, barely managing to keep his voice from cracking when he said your name. "What a coincidental surprise..."