Recently I was walking in my neighborhood and noticed a vaguely familiar person from afar. A man who lives a few doors down from me marched slowly along the curb, arm and arm, with an older woman. I had never talked with him up close, but recognized his general features from a distance. The details of his appearance, name, personality and backstory were all unknowns, though my brain automatically created a rough sketch based on other people I've met. A swell of self-consciousness kept my gaze...