[ wp ] You 've grow familiar to a stranger who 's been beside you , every where you go , only existing in the corner of your eye , in your peripheral vision . At last , after three months , it speaks ...

He has been by my side, through the toughest few months of my life. 
 
 
 
 Though, i've never seen him *directly*, i've barely noticed that he wears a long, tan duster. He always seems to be smoking a cigar, and i always seem to be the only one that can pick up the haunting aroma. 
 
 
 
 The mysterious stranger first entered my perception on a fine Autumn day. I was making my way through Hollins park, admiring the foliage, weeping at the beauty of nature, and pondering as to why my life could not be as beautiful. I had wished for a companion, as i watched the oak leaves displace themselves, and secure their future as fertilizer. The mysterious stranger had appeared then, startling me beyond measure. It seemed as though i could n't look at him directly, he would just vanish, but when i would hold my gaze elsewhere, he would observe with me. 
 
 
 
 He'd never say anything. 
 
 
 
 Currently, i find myself back in Hollins park. It was a park that remained rather empty, no matter the season. Today, it was filled with snow, thanks to the accumulation of 6 inches overnight. 
 
 
 `` Y'know, i'm ready for Spring already, my friend.'' 
 
 
 I could make out a nod. That's more than what i usually get out of him. 
 
 
 `` Who are you?'' 
 
 
 It was a question i'd asked roughly a hundred times. It never merited a response, nor movement, aside from the stranger's casual smoking habit. But today, he did something a little different. He bent over to dispel the cherry from his cigar, and actually *walked* into my forward vision. 
 
 
 As i thought, he wore a duster. A similar-in-color fedora rested upon his head. His face was one you'd see on the cover of a noire classic, Hardened, clean shaven, cold. The only bit of hair i could see from under his fedora was styled back, jet black. His hands rested in his pockets, his posture was like cement. 
 
 
 `` My name's Jared.'' 
 
 
 I choked on my words, not knowing what to say. 
 
 
 `` I- I'm Angela, nice to meet you.'' 
 
 
 `` I know who you are.'' 
 
 
 I nodded, It would only make sense. He continued. 
 
 
 `` Say Angela, do you notice anything different about your life? Since i got here, i mean.'' 
 
 
 I rested my back against the bench, and pondered. Actually, yes. There was a big difference in my life. I was more confident, knowing somebody was always on my team. Last month, i'd recieved a promotion at work. When i'd go out, i was never afraid to walk to my car, which was usually blocks away. This man, Jared, Had given me the one thing i've never had in my life during this brief stint, *security*. 
 
 
 I blurted out my answer, `` Yes, i have. You've given me security, and confidence within it. Thank you.'' 
 
 
 He nodded, `` It's what i do, do n't mention it.'' and he vanished! 
 
 
 He was gone. 
 
 
 The old familiar feeling of loneliness began to cover me like a blanket. I was almost in tears as my phone vibrated, i eyed the notification on my Iphone screen. It was an app notification, of one i had downloaded, but never really saw use for. It was named `` Secure living'' 
 
 
 **'' Your free trial has ended! ** 
 
 
 `` WHAT?'' 
 
 
 
 another notification popped up. 
 
 
 
 **'' Please give Jared a rating! 1-5 stars? `` ** 
 
 
 
 I already had the app open, and my wallet out.
