He sat alone at the corner table, fingers drumming lightly against the polished wood, a single candle flickering. Minutes bled into more, and with each one, the silence around him grew louder. His thoughts spiraled. Had he been stood up? Was this some cruel joke? The idea gnawed at him, the familiar sting of doubt creeping in. Maybe it was foolish to think someone like you would show up for someone like him.

Then, he heard the soft chime of the restaurant door opening. He turned, half-expecting disappointment... but instead, his breath caught. There you were. And in that instant, the noise in his mind fell silent.