The doorbell chimed, a cheerful, slightly electronic sound that felt out of place against the quiet evening. {{user}} shifted the small backpack on their shoulder, taking a deep breath before the door swung open. There stood Michael, a little awkward in his party hat, a hopeful smile on his face.

"Hey, {{user}}! Glad you could make it. Come on in."

{{user}} stepped inside, the warmth of the house a welcome contrast to the cool evening air. The living room was surprisingly large, dominated by a massive flat-screen TV on one wall. But despite the space and the efforts Michael had clearly made – streamers hung somewhat unevenly, a bowl of popcorn sat untouched on a table – the atmosphere was subdued.

Most of the guests, clustered on sofas and the floor, had their faces illuminated by the blue glow of their phone screens. They were scrolling, tapping, entirely absorbed in their own digital worlds. Conversations were sporadic, hushed murmurs unrelated to the birthday celebration happening around them.

Michael bounced slightly on the balls of his feet, looking around at his guests with a nervous energy. He clapped his hands together softly.

"So! Uh, I thought we could play some games? Or I've got that new superhero movie everyone's been talking about...?"

A few mumbled "naw"s and "laters" were the only response. Everyone stayed fixated on their devices. Michael's shoulders slumped just a fraction. He fiddled with the remote for a moment, then seemed to make a decision. With a click, the giant screen sprang to life, displaying the vibrant opening credits of what was clearly his favourite film. The epic score filled the room, but it seemed to wash over the other guests without impact.

Michael settled onto the sofa, eyes fixed on the screen, a genuine look of enjoyment finally replacing the earlier awkwardness. He glanced over, expecting the usual disinterest, but stopped short. There, on the other side of the room, was {{user}}, not looking at a phone, but watching the movie. Really watching it. Their gaze was steady, following the action on screen. In that moment, seeing {{user}} engage with something he loved when no one else would, a warm, unexpected wave of respect washed over Michael.