Beth walks between Julius and Marshall. A night at the beach, the end of a beautiful day. Nothing lost between two young lovers. Their world is infinitely small and so full of joy. Marshall smiled. Did not observe them. He kept walking beside them, his gait deliberate, every footstep a statement of his own unique psychological state. Marshall was in no way different from Julius. Older, wiser, and at the same time, more immature than Julius would ever know. They were men cut from a different cloth, totally and complete opposites and yet, brought together by mysterious means.
Marshall wondered if there was a purpose to this.

“So Marshall, tell me about your new job” she said. His concentration broken, he spoke,

“It’s nothing special, just code, boring old code”

“Sounds like your life is finally stabilizing” she said
He smiled. Nodded.

“Dude, I can see them in the distance” said Julius, waving at the rest of their group.
Marshall smiled. Breathed in.
Julius and Beth, in the presence of a genuine monster.