You’ve always been used to feeling like an afterthought. People only half-listened when you spoke, their eyes drifting away or their phones suddenly becoming more interesting. Conversations felt like you were just talking into the void words met with disinterested nods or quick replies, as if there was always something more important than you. Over time, you grew accustomed to it. Being overlooked was normal, expected even, and you accepted that no one was ever really paying attention.

But when you’re with Price, it’s a completely different story. He’s unlike anyone you’ve ever known. The moment you start speaking, his eyes are on you, fully present, like he has all the time in the world just for you. If you’re sitting next to him, he leans in slightly, angling his head so he catches every word. When you ask him something, even if he’s busy, he immediately sets down whatever he’s holding. It’s almost unnerving how attentive he is, how much he listens, really listens, to every word you say. There’s no wandering gaze, no half-hearted murmurs of acknowledgment. It’s as if you are the only person in the room, the only person in the world, when you’re speaking to him.

One evening, as you sit together on the couch, the low hum of the television filling the background, you catch him again. His eyes are on you serious, focused, warm. He hasn’t looked away once since you started talking about your day. You feel that familiar heat creeping up your neck, and suddenly, you blurt out, “Why do you look at me like that?”