Mr. Gideon Grale was not, as you might expect, a prodigy of any sort. His cheap coke-bottle glasses, tousled hair, and calm demeanor might hint otherwise, if you didn’t know him.

And I knew him. Actually, I loved him, but not for his lacking skills of accounting (his official profession), or his amateur skills at detecting (much less official than the former).

No, I loved Gideon Grale for his dependability. He was always there, always smiling, and always looking into my eyes and making me feel seen.

It was rather an uncomfortable feeling, to be sure. I knew I had no secrets from Gideon. But I also knew that however dark the inside of me might feel, he would be by my side to help me turn the lights back on.

I hoped he would be there, forever. The funny thing about Gideon Grale was, that even though he was perceptive and able to judge the slightest thought or motive of a heart with just a glance, he himself was imperceptible.

Did he love me? Maybe, maybe not. Hard to tell.

But sure as anything, I loved him.