Synopsis

The air crackled with an awkward energy. He cleared his throat, attempting a smile that felt brittle. Across the small table, she regarded him with an expression that suggested she’d rather be anywhere else. The silence stretched, punctuated only by the clinking of silverware and the faint hum of the restaurant. He’d chosen this place hoping for ambiance, but it felt merely like a stage for his mounting discomfort. Her sweater, a garish explosion of color and texture, seemed to amplify the tensi