He bumps into his neighbour, Jonas

Matt had barely taken ten steps back toward the trail when he heard someone calling his name.

He turned just as his neighbor—Jonas, the guy from two doors down—rounded the bend. Hiking pack, easy grin, the same “I basically live outdoors” energy he always had.

“Hey, man,” Jonas said, giving Matt a friendly shoulder‑bump as he passed. “Didn’t expect to see you out here this early.”

The moment their shoulders touched, the ring pulsed.

Not a glow. Not a sound. Just a tiny, warm thrum against Matt’s skin, like a heartbeat that wasn’t his.

He froze.

Jonas didn’t notice. He was already adjusting his pack straps, talking about the weather, the trail, something about a new job. Matt tried to focus, but something felt… off.

His shirt collar sat a little differently against his neck. His hiking boots suddenly felt half a size looser. The callused hands from years of work, gardening, and DIY now slowly becoming smoother, softer.

Tiny things. Barely there. Easy to dismiss.

Except he couldn’t.

Jonas finally paused, squinting at him. “You good? You look like you saw a ghost.”

Matt forced a laugh. “Yeah, just… long week.”

But as Jonas kept talking, Matt caught his reflection in the dark screen of his phone when he pulled it out to check the time.

Nothing dramatic. Nothing impossible.

Just… slightly softer. Slightly different. Like a photo of himself that someone had retouched without asking.

And the ring, warm against his finger, pulsed again.