“Zeke? You listenin’?”

Ezekiel blinked. There was a pause as his brain reconnected, as the image of you in front of him transformed from art to reality. His back straightened. His fingers fell against the ivory keys.

“Yeah, no, for sure. I was listening,” he replied, lying through his teeth. He offered a smile in hopes of solidifying his answer.

The two of you were sitting in your living room. He sat at your piano while you went over sheet music together for your school’s talent competition.