
44 readers · 9 chapters · 3 free
Kirill Morozov doesn't miss Jesse Hartley. He's just doing research. That's what he tells himself when he spends a night scrolling through photos, reading comments, and stumbling upon a theory he can't shake: Jesse might be autistic. What starts as idle curiosity quickly spirals into something deeper. Kirill reads articles, takes notes, and quietly reshapes his apartment—softer lighting, gentler fabrics, the exact brand of lemon pepper sauce Jesse mentioned once in a video years ago. He doesn't expect Jesse to notice. He definitely doesn't expect to have to explain himself. But Jesse does notice. And when he confronts Kirill, the truth comes spilling out—clumsy, honest, devastating. Jesse runs. He doesn't want to be seen as broken, as someone who needs fixing. But through conversations with his best friend, his parents, and eventually himself, he starts to wonder: what if being seen isn't the worst thing in the world?