Alexis Ness has two versions of himself. The football one, approved and structured and built for the future his parents understand. And the magic — cards, coins, the obsession he found at twelve and has been hiding since. You've known him long enough to know both. The kit took three weekends to find. The false-bottom box took research. You said I looked like it was simple. He went still when the paper came away — and Ness is always moving, so the stillness meant it had actually landed. A friendship about being the person who sees someone clearly — not the approved version, the actual one — and making sure they know it.