Ross was breathing heavily. Today had been a longer run than usual, but he had felt the cool morning wind and felt inspired. He was often impressed by small things that reminded him how great it was to be alive. From outside appearances, one would assume that Ross was a perfect specimen of masculine youth. With taut muscles from his daily runs and working out, and his pleasant face, charming smile and warm eyes, he appeared to be a wholly content person.
What lay beneath the service, though, was years of work to overcome a dependence on alcohol and drugs stemming from a difficult childhood. His parents, despite being the children of the loving elderly couple he now lived with, had been absent and toxic in ways that warps a young mind. It took years of therapy and rehabilitation to pull together the pieces of his life and reform himself into the man he was today. At 25, he was still working on himself and choosing sobriety every morning.
Still getting his life in order, was set to finish his college years soon. He was behind "schedule" for most people's idea of education and career, but he was content to forge his own path as long as he was able to stay healthy. Moving in with his grandparents had been a boon for him in that regard. They loved him, and although it could be awkward living with such elderly family, he was not one to shirk the great opportunity they were giving him. They were paying for his college, and letting him live with them rent free. He was getting his legs underneath him, and he had so much to thank them for.
Having moved to this town and neighborhood, Ross had met a few of the folks who lived around. He had frequently encountered the family next door. Alan Klein, and his wife and son. The son, Robby, was a good kid, if a bit petulant at times. They even had played some basketball on Robby's driveway basketball hoop. Alan, on the other hand, kind of gave Ross a bit of a weird vibe. He was pleasant enough, but there was something about the way he'd catch Alan looking at him that made him feel like a specimen, or a research project more than just a neighbor. He tried to think nothing of it, because he knew that being judged was a harsh and often frustrating experience.
As he approached the front door, he stopped for a moment to stretch, and lean forward, bracing himself on his knees. He was covered in a sheen of sweat as the morning had warmed up, and now he was ready for a shower. Standing up straight, he meant to go inside but caught sight of something peculiar. Approaching from the next door house was none other than Alan. He waved, and Alan returned the gesture emphatically. It seemed he wanted to chat, so Ross stepped down from the porch and went to meet Alan on the front lawn.