The morning stretched before Leo like a vast, empty plain. He’d been aiming to get up before dawn, eager to start his day with a run. Instead, he’d barely managed to drag himself out of bed an hour later, every muscle feeling heavy and resistant. He shuffled into the kitchen, the sunlight already streaming through the window, mocking his lethargy. He poured himself a cup of coffee, the aroma doing little to invigorate him. He slumped onto a chair, scrolling through his phone. A text from Ben popped up: “Meet me at the usual place?” Leo sighed. He really didn’t want to, but Ben was insistent.
He found Ben at the coffee shop, already halfway through a pastry, looking annoyingly cheerful. “Hey man!” Ben greeted him, as if he hadn't known Leo would be late. The energy in Ben's voice grated on Leo’s nerves. Leo mumbled a greeting, his words barely audible over the espresso machine's hiss. Ben launched into a story about a massive deal he’d supposedly closed that week. Leo, usually an attentive listener, found his attention drifting. He couldn't quite meet Ben's gaze.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he spotted it. A familiar face, a colleague from the local library. The man was staring right at Ben, a confused expression on his face. Leo felt a sudden, inexplicable shift in his stomach. He wasn't sure what it was, but he knew something was off.