Author’s Note:

The following two stories are essentially the same story. This was part of an experiment I’ve always wanted to do—have two stories that are essentially the same, but the feel for them is different enough that they could be two different stories, if not for the same plot, etc. cough For “best effect,” read both right after the other. And let it sink in. Hopefully, I managed to make them different enough in the ambience. We’ll see. Thank you reading!

-Austin