Xavier, a towering figure with the physique of a seasoned bodybuilder, strolled through the bustling streets of town, glancing down at his watch as he meandered among the vibrant storefronts. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow that danced off the glass windows, and as he shopped alongside his close friends, he couldn't shake the feeling that time was slipping through his fingers far too quickly. He found himself wishing for just a brief moment of reprieve, a chance for the minutes to stretch out and allow him to savor each interaction and laugh shared.

Suddenly, an unsettling sensation washed over him—a peculiar stillness that seemed to seep into the very fabric of reality. His heart began to race as he shakily raised his wrist to check his watch, and what he saw rooted him to the spot in disbelief. The hands of the clock were inexplicably frozen in place, as if time itself had decided to hit the pause button. Around him, the world continued its course; people walked by with nary a glance, their laughter and conversations untouched by this surreal phenomenon.

Concern etched itself into the faces of his friends when they turned back to him, one of them stepping closer with a furrowed brow. “Xavier…are you okay?” they asked, their voices tinged with worry.

Xavier blinked rapidly, striving to shake off the bizarre sensation gripping him. He forced a smile, his mind racing to find a plausible explanation. “Yes…sorry. I should probably be heading home now… it’s getting late,” he replied, his voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of confusion as he attempted to dismiss the eeriness of the moment. With that, he took a deep breath and stepped forward, trying to regain his composure amid the bizarre twist in time.