The floor lamp casted a gentle glow when he walked through the door. He had a timer set so that he would never come into the apartment pitch dark. He hated that feeling. Scary memories from childhood.

His place wasn't so homey. He could never make a place like that. His wife had. The spaces he inhabited after he left were always barren. Spartan they would call it.

The only thing of warmth in this living room was the lamp. He boiled water in a kettle. Sat down and waited for it to come to. Mug already with a teabag waiting in it. He felt alone in that living room. He was alone. The sounds from outside were unattractive. Motors. Students yelling loudly. Podcasts on speaker phone.

Usually he would play something loud to drown it out. Watch TV or Youtube. Tonight he listened to the kettle instead. The water racing to a steaming rise. His eyes were closed. The soft glow massaged his eyelids.

The world was a dark, lonely place. Warmth was the only 

salvation

. As the water came to, the kettle hummed like a train whistle. He remembered the man he ran into on his way home. Matt. What a warm soul that was.