I’ve spent half an hour trying to fall asleep before giving up and switching my reading light back on. Darkness might be soothing for Aiden, but to me, it's not nothingness, it’s the opposite, a bottomless well filled with horrible things just waiting to happen.

The reading light isn't much, but it chases away some of the shadows. I briefly consider opening a book, to get Aiden out of my mind, or maybe going into the classroom and watching a movie. Nothing with Barry Becker—I can't handle seeing him today, not after the bizarre date with his lookalike. Maybe some nice romantic comedy to lighten the mood?

But they turn the lights off outside at 10 PM, and the idea of navigating the dark corridor and the equally dark classroom creeps me out.

I turn in my bed, my stomach rumbling. I should have taken something from the vending machine. I didn't expect to stay awake for so long. Usually, I drop off the moment my head touches the pillow. Falling asleep is all about routine, and mine is almost exactly the same every day, with slight variations for reading, watching movies, or grading students' assignments. Today proved to be different, and my brain can’t stop chewing on the new experiences.

I held Aiden's hand. We talked.

Maybe I should have asked him if he finds me attractive.

What if he said he did?

What if he lied?

Is he even capable of liking someone?

What do I care? He's not really a cute guy I can have a crush on.

But as I never get a chance to have a crush on a real guy, shouldn't I seize what’s available?

I sigh, and then catch my breath when a brief knock comes on the door. I sit up. This never happens. They never bother me after lights out, save for the sleepover simulations. Maybe this is it—my time is up, and they’ve arrived to get rid of me.

I don't really have to open the door, but I've been living for too long in this situation where I have no choice in anything. If they knock, I open, and that's it. After all, if they decide to enter, they will.

I sit up and reach for the switch on the wall, then change my mind. Ceiling lamps will only blind me, and I can see the outlines of the objects in the room well enough with the reading light. I get out of bed and head to the door. The tiles feel cool under my bare feet. I don't even bother to ask who it is, just turn the handle and pull the door open.

It's Aiden. For a moment, his face seems to shift and change shape, but that's just the poor lighting. It's him, grinning excitedly, and there's a weirdly familiar strong smell about him. It’s a good smell, and my brain takes a moment to place it. I look down and see the small carton box in his hand, with a letter 'M' printed on top of it.

“What’s this?” I say, already knowing the answer.

“A hamburger,” he whispers conspiratorially. “The real thing. You didn't eat supper, so I figured I'll get you one.”

Get me one? Where did he get it? For the thousand’s time, I wonder about the location of this little bubble in which they’re keeping me. Could it be in some catacombs under a city, so that all he needed to do was go up and enter the nearest McDonald's? Could real life be so close?

“A hamburger,” I repeat. “In the middle of the night.”

“Not healthy at all,” he says excitedly, as if it were a good thing. “That's the point, isn't it?”

“The point is taste.” And the smell, which is maddening. I've forgotten what it's like to be hungry and have something within my reach that I'm actually dying to eat. So, I take the box from him. He just stands there, smiling, looking proud, and I'm momentarily lost as to what to say. Maybe I should thank him, but it feels wrong, a prisoner thanking his jailor.

“No French fries?” I say instead.

He blinks. “Oh. I didn’t get them. Doesn’t this work without?”

“It’s better with them. Also, with Cola or something.”

“Sorry. I’ll take that into account the next time.” So, he’s already planning the next time? “I got you water, though.” He shows me a small plastic bottle. I take it from him. He smiles, apparently pleased with his gifts being so well received. I sigh, finding it hard to just shut the door in his smiling face.

“Want to come in?” I say, and he nods with enthusiasm.