The Static Between Us

He doesn’t know the city hums differently when he's near. A higher frequency, a subtle static that makes my skin prickle.
I watch him from across the cafe, his fingers tracing the rim of his cup – a small gesture, insignificant to anyone else. But it throws my pulse into overdrive. Irregular. Chaotic.
It started with accidental brushes in the elevator, shared awkward smiles over burnt coffee. Now? Now I find myself choosing this cafe just for the *chance* of seeing him, constructing elaborate narratives around his silence.
Is he thinking about me too? Does he feel it – that almost painful pull?
A barista calls out an order. His name isn't one of them. The world snaps back into focus. A wave of heat rises in my cheeks, and I look away. Control yourself. This is ridiculous.
But the static remains, a lingering echo of something… else.

Editor: Heartbeat Monitor