On the damp streets of the city, beneath the hum of neon lights and the distant clatter of train wheels, Jordan found himself lost in thought. It was one of those late nights where the world felt like a blur—weeks merging into each other, hours stretching like the shadows cast by flickering streetlamps. All he could think about was the girl who haunted his dreams, her laughter echoing in his mind like a familiar song.

He wanted to wake up next to her, to feel the warmth of her body beside him when they both reached double figures in age and experience, to find solace in her gaze as if looking into double mirrors reflecting a future he had yet to grasp. But fate had dealt them a fickle hand, and tonight she wasn’t available. It was her turn to navigate the pains of life, while he continued to ride the night bus, the city unfolding before him like a restless canvas.

The weight of a thousand sleepless nights tugged at his eyes, red as the laces of his shoes, a telling sign of his exhaustion. Home was a place he hardly recognized anymore. The Highbury estate stood proud, the bricks and mortar revealing nothing of his weary soul. He puffed away like a dragon, clouds swirling around him as he tried to chase memories, thoughts, and a glimmer of hope. The city’s pulse thrummed in time with his heart as he flipped through songs on his iPod, searching for inspiration amidst the noise.

Her absence gnawed at him, the emptiness wrapping around him like a frigid wind. Ever since his last meet, he hadn’t changed much. Still scavenging for meals, finding solace in the laughter of friends, dance floors, and the thrill of navigating life without a glamorous title or a university degree. He chuckled softly to himself, recalling how people sometimes saw right through him, but he knew better—he wasn’t a fool. Life didn’t need a strict roadmap; he would blaze his own trail beyond the age of twenty-two.

As the night bus bounced along, Jordan allowed himself to drift, though the fatigue clung to him like a shadow. He closed his eyes, hoping to dream of softer days, warm embraces, and the comforting weight of her presence. A true mate—not just a passing fancy or casual fling, but someone he could share those late-night rides home with, someone who wanted to be his duvet, wrapping him in warmth when the world felt cold.

In the back of his mind, a whisper grew, insisting that it wasn't a homeless life for him; he was merely home less than he desired. The city stretched endlessly around him, majestic yet unforgiving. He longed to step off that bus and into the arms of the girl who could light up his dark nights. Until then, he would keep riding, keep searching, and keep dreaming of the moment when he would finally lay his head down beside her, finally feeling at home.